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Gold  win  Smith 


c%  r\ 


RECORDS     OF    THE     PAST: 

BEING 

ENGLISH     TRANSLATIONS 

OF    THE 

ASSYRIAN   AND    EGYPTIAN    MONUMENTS. 

PUBLISHED    UNDER    THE    SANCTION 
OF 

THE  SOCIETY  OF  BIBLICAL  ARCHEOLOGY. 

VOL.    III. 
ASSYRIAN   TEXTS. 


LONDON: 
SAMUEL     BAGSTER     AND   .SONS, 


15,  PATERNOSTER   ROW. 


MICROFORA 

pur-say 

SEP  0  3  1QR7 


RECORDS      OF      THE      PAST 


VOL     III. 


ASSYRIAN     TEXTS. 


NOTE. 

Every  Text  here  given  is  either  now  translated  for  the  first 
time,  or  has  been  specially  revised  by  the  Translator  to  the 
date  of  this  publication. 


PREFACE 


THE  third  volume  of  the  "  Records  of  the  Past " 
contains  a  continuation  of  Translations  of  Assyrian 
Texts,  and  some  of  the  principal  historical  and  other 
documents  found  in  the  Cuneiform  inscriptions.  Their 
importance  to  historical,  biblical,  and  philological 
studies,  has  been  already  pointed  out,  and  the  monu- 
ments which  appear  in  the  present,  are  not  of  less 
interest  than  those  in  the  first  volume.  The  great  mass 
of  literature  already  exhumed,  the  attention  directed 
to  it  by  more  scholars,  the  interest  awakened  in  the 
study,  and  the  learning  displayed  in  the  elucidation 
of  Assyrian  and  Babylonian  Cuneiform,  promise  the 
most  valuable  contributions  to  the  knowledge  of 
these  oldest  of  races  of  mankind.  There  still  remains, 
should  even  the  present  materials  be  exhausted,  a 
mine  of  literary  treasure  in  the  mounds  of  Meso- 
potamia, which  sooner  or  later  must  be  brought  to 
light,  and  help  to  solve  some  of  the  problems  which 
the  monuments  hitherto  found  have  presented  to 
different  inquirers.  The  data  are  by  degrees  arranging 
themselves  in  their  respective  places,  and  their  value 
is  more  justly  appreciated.  Indispensable  to  a  due 


ii  PREFACE. 

knowledge  of  the  history  of  Western  Asia,  they  are 
hardly  less  so  for  the  unexpected  information  they 
afford  to  the  proper  comprehension  of  the  events  in 
Palestine  which  preceded  the  fall  of  the  Jewish  king- 
doms, the  conquest  of  Egypt  and  Cyprus,  and  the 
unexpected  and  important  part  which  the  Assyrians 
played  in  the  history  of  the  world.  The  materials 
of  this  volume,  like  the  preceding,  have  been  prepared 
by  different  Assyriologists  with  great  care,  and  those 
which  have  appeared  elsewhere  have  been  carefully 
revised  and  corrected  or  retranslated  for  the  present 
volume.  They  will  be  found  to  be  of  interest  to 
the  students  of  chronology,  history,  and  comparative 
mythology. 

S.  BIRCH. 
December,   1874. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

PREFACE       ...  i 

Early  History  of  Babylonia  ...         ...         ...  i 

By  GEORGE  SMITH. 

Table  of  Ancient  Accadian  Laws 21 

By  the  Rev.  A.  H.  SAYCE,  M.A. 

Synchronous  History  of  Assyria  and  Babylonia     ...         25 
By  the  Rev.  A.  H.  SAYCE,  M.A. 

Annals  of  Assur-nasir-pal     ...         ...         ...         ...         37 

By  the  Rev.  J.  M.  RODWELL,  M.A. 

Monolith  Inscription  of  Shalmaneser         81 

By  the  Rev.  A.  H.  SAYCE,  M.A. 

Inscription  of  Esarhaddon 101 

By  H.  F.  TALBOT,  F.R.S. 

Second  Inscription  of  Esarhaddon  ...         ...       109 

By  H.  F.  TALBOT,  F.R.S. 

An  Accadian  Liturgy  125 

By  the  Rev.  A.  H.  SAYCE,  M.A. 

Assyrian  Sacred  Poetry        131 

By  H.  F.  TALBOT,  F.R.S. 

Assyrian  Talismans  and  Exorcisms  ...         ...       139 

By  H.  F.  TALBOT,  F.R.S. 

Ancient  Babylonian  Charms  145 

By  the  Rev.  A.  H.  SAYCE,  M.A. 

Lists  of  Further  Texts,  etc.  155 

Arranged  by  GEORGE  SMITH. 


EARLY   HISTORY   OF  BABYLONIA. 


BY    GEORGE    SMITH. 


account  of  the  Early  History  of  Babylonia  is 
taken  from  the  lecture  delivered  before  the  Society  of 
Biblical  Archaeology  on  the  6th  of  June  1871.  Trans- 
actions of  the  Society  of  Biblical  Arch&ology ,  Vol.  i.,  p.  i.  Since 
that  date  there  have  been  several  new  discoveries  but 
these  have  not  yet  been  published  in  the  Society's 
volumes  and  therefore  are  not  included  here.  As  the 
bulk  of  this  paper  consists  of  translations  from  early 
Babylonian  documents  it  is  as  well  to  notice  that 
there  is  considerable  difficulty  in  reading  some  of  the 

proper  names,  and  since  my  paper  was  written  I  have 

2 


RECORDS    OF   THE   PAST. 


proposed  to  read  the  name  of  the  moon-god  in  some 
cases  "  Agu  "  instead  of  "  Sin,"  which  will  alter  those 
proper  names  in  which  this  name  occurs. 


NOTE. — For  the  convenience  of  readers,  I  have 
generally  placed  (g)  before  the  names  of  deities,  (c) 
before  the  names  of  cities,  and  [  ]  to  include 
restorations. 


EARLY   HISTORY   OF   BABYLONIA. 


WHEN  the  light  of  monumental  history  first  dawns  .upon 
Babylonia  we  find  that  country  inhabited  by  two  races,  the 
Sumir  and  Akkad ;  they  spoke  two  different  languages,  one 
Turanian  the  other  Semitic,  but  we  have  no  information  as 
to  which  race  spoke  either  language,  and  we  do  not  know 
their  geographical  distribution  in  the  country,  but  probably 
they  were  mixed  in  most  parts,  as  many  of  the  cities  have 
both  Turanian  and  Semitic  names.  The  name  of  the  Sumir 
was  written  Kame  or  Ke-en-gi  in  Turanian,  and  Su-mi-ri  in 
Semitic,  and  the  Akkad  were  called  Urdu  in  Turanian,  and 
Ak-ka-di  in  Semitic.  The  Turanian  people,  who  appear  to 
have  been  the  original  inhabitants  of  the  country,  invented 
the  cuneiform  mode  of  writing ;  all  the  earliest  inscriptions 
are  in  that  language,  but  the  proper  names  of  most  of  the 
kings  and  principal  persons  are  written  in  Semitic,  in  direct 
contrast  to  the  body  of  the  inscriptions.  The  Semites 
appear  to  have  conquered  the  Turanians,  although  they  had 
not  yet  imposed  their  language  on  the  country.  Babylonia 
at  this  time  contained  many  great  cities,  some  of  the 
principal  being  Nipur,  written  Mul-kit-ki  in  Turanian,  and 
Nipur  in  Semitic  ;  this  city  was  probably  the  earliest  seat  of 
empire,  and  long  continued  the  centre  of  the  Babylonian 
religion.  Eridu  or  Ridu,  written  Nun-ki  in  Turanian,  and 
Eridu  and  Ridu  in  Semitic;  Ur,  written  Urlab-ki  in 
Turanian,  and  Ur  in  Semitic;  Karrak,  written  Nisinna  in 
Turanian,  and  Karrak  in  Semitic;  Uruk  (Erech)  written 
Lab-ki  in  Turanian,  and  Uruk  arid  Arka  in  Semitic;  Larsa, 
written  Ud-lab-ki  in  Turanian,  and  Larsa  in  Semitic;  Sip- 
para,  written  Ud-kip-nun-ki  in  Turanian,  and  Sippar  and 


4  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

Sipar  in  Semitic  ;  Zergulla,  and  Agadi  which  I  have  recently 
discovered  to  be  the  city  of  Akkad,  the  third  capital  of 
Nimrod. 

Berosus,  a  Chaldean  priest  in  the  third  century  B.C.,  wrote  • 
a  history  of  Chaldea,  from  which  the  following  fragments  of 
chronology  have  been  preserved ;  they  may  be  compared 
with  the  monumental  notices  : — 


Chronological  Scheme  of  Berosus. 
the  Flood,  commencing-  with  "I 

86  kings  after  the   Flood,   to    the    Median  "1 


10  kings  before  the  Flood,  commencing  with  "I  OOQ    earg 

Al-orus j   43  > 


Conquest  -  ]    3'4°8< 

8  Median  kings    -         -         -         -  224  or  190  years 

ii  other  kings         -  duration  unknown. 

49  Chaldean  kings          -  458  years. 

9  Arabian  kings   -  245  years. 
45  kings          ------               526  years. 

After  whom  came  Pul  and  Sennacherib. 

A  similar  system  of  chronology  was  probably  believed  in 
during  the  later  historic  period.  Sargon,  king  of  Babylon, 
B.C.  710-705,  says/  "350  ancient  kings  before  me  the 
dominion  of  Assyria  ruled  and  governed  the  dominion  of 
BEL  (Babylonia)";  and  in  another  place,  "From  the  days 
remote  the  time  of  (g)  Ur  to  the  Kings  my  fathers  of 
Assyria  and  Karduniyas  (Babylonia)."  The  god  Ur  here 
spoken  of  is  evidently  the  first  mythical  king  of  Berosus, 
Al-orus.  Assurbanipal  king  of  Assyria,  B.C.  668-626, 
states,2  that  Babylonia  was  conquered  by  an  Elamite  named 
Kudur-nanhundi,  1635  before  his  own  capture  of  Shushan, 
or  about  B.C.  2280.  This  conquest  by  Kudur-nanhundi  I 
have  conjectured  to  be  the  same  as  the  Median  conquest 
of  Berosus,  but  Kudurnanhundi  has  left  no  monuments, 
unless  he  be  the  same  as  the  Kudur-mabug  who  built  at  Ur. 

1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  36. 

2  "History  of  Assurbanipal,"  p.  250. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    BABYLONIA.  5 

No  approximate  date  can  be  fixed  for  any  Babylonian 
monarch  before  Kara-indas,  who  reigned  about  B.C.  1475, 
and  the  period  of  the  rulers  whom  we  know  to  have  pre- 
ceded him  must  be  acknowledged  to  be  at  present  quite 
uncertain. 

The  annals  of  the  early  monarchs  of  Babylonia  are  for 
the  most  part  lost,  but  there  are  sufficient  remains  of  their 
works  to  show  that  their  dominion  was  a  most  important 
one.  All  the  great  temples  of  Babylonia  were  founded  by 
the  kings  who  preceded  the  conquest  by  Hammurabi  the 
king  of  the  Kassi,  and  the  date  of 'this  conquest  cannot  be 
placed  later  than  the  i6th  century  B.C.  Bricks  and  stone 
tablets,  with  inscriptions  of  these  early  Babylonian  monarchs, 
have  been  found  at  most  of  the  sites,  and  the  vast  size  of 
their  works  shows  their  great  power.  The  civilization  of 
this  early  period  is  proved  by  the  works  on  Geography, 
Astrology,  Mythology,  Grammar,  Mathematics,  etc.,  parts  of 
which  inscribed  on  clay  tablets  are  now  in  the  British 
Museum. 

The  civil  administration  and  laws  of  the  country  are 
partly  shown  by  a  number  of  sale,  loan  and  law  tablets 
belonging  to  the  close  of  the  period  in  question  (about 
the  time  of  Hammurabi) ;  and  the  state  of  the  fine  arts 
can  be  estimated  by  the  thousands  of  beautifully  engraved 
seals  belonging  to  this  age,  now  in  various  European 
Museums. 

The  titles  of  the  early  rulers  of  Babylonia  were  pa-te-si, 
and  sar ;  patesi  means  deputy  or  viceroy,  and  is  equivalent 
to  the  Semitic  "is-sak-ku"  j  when  combined  with  the  name  of 
a  deity,  as  Patesi  (g)  Assur  "  viceroy  of  the  god  Assur,"  it 
may  denote  an  independent  ruler,  but  the  patesi  of  towns  in 
Babylonia  were  most  probably  governors  or  viceroys  of 
the  kings;  I  will  here  give  their  inscriptions  first,  for 
convenience. 


6  RECORDS   OF   THE   PAST. 

The  monumental  kings  of  Babylonia  divide  themselves 
naturally  into  three  groups, — ist,  the  Chaldean  or  native 
kings  before  the  conquest  of  the  Kassi  j  2nd,  the  kings  of 
the  Kassi  dynasty ;  and  3rd,  the  Chaldean  or  native  kings, 
successors  of  the  Kassi. 

The  Babylonian  monarchs  usually  took  their  titles  from 
their  capital  cities,  and  probably  formed  in  some  cases  con- 
temporary lines  of  kings,  the  country  being  not  always 
united  under  one  sceptre  ;  this  fact,  combined  with  our  want 
of  information  respecting  the  earlier  periods  of  Babylonian 
history,  makes  it  impossible  to  present  the  list  of  kings  in 
chronological  order.  The  following  arrangement  of  the 
names  must,  therefore,  be  considered  as  only  provisional. 

i   MI-(?)-SA-NANA-KALAM-MI(?). 

The  name  of  this  ruler  is  Turanian ;  only  one  of  his 
inscriptions  is  preserved.  Nothing  is  known  respecting  the 
extent  of  his  dominions,  or  the  position  of  his  capital. 

INSCRIPTION    ON    A    CONE    (UNPUBLISHED). 

"  MI-SA-NANA-KALAMMI,  viceroy  of  (c.)  Ridu, 
High  Priest  of  mati  .  .  .  num  .   . 
son  of  BE  .  .  HUK." 

2     I-DA-DU. 

This  governor  ruled  at  the  same  city  as  the  former  one. 
Eridu  his  capital  was  one  of  the  greatest  Babylonian  cities. 
The  name  Idadu  is  Semitic. 

INSCRIPTION    ON    BRICK    (UNPUBLISHED). 

"  To  (g.)  NINRIDU,  his  King, 

for  the  preservation  of  IDADU,  Viceroy  of  (c.)  Ridu, 
the  servant  the  delight  of  (g.)  NINRIDU." 


EARLY   HISTORY    OF    BABYLONIA.  7 

3     BEL-SAMU. 

Bel-samu,  whose  name  is  written  in  Turanian  Va-anna, 
was  ruler  of  Zirgulla,  probably  represented  by  the  mounds 
of  Zerghul,  east  of  the  river  Hye,  in  Babylonia. 

INSCRIPTION   ON   A   CONE    (UNPUBLISHED). 

"  BEL-SAMU,  Viceroy  of  (c.)  Zirgulla. 

NAN  A  (g.)  his  delight  ip  .  .  .  .  he  built, 
Bitanna  of  the  east  country  he  completed." 

4     GU-DE-A.1 

The  name  of  Gudea  is  evidently  Turanian,  its  Semitic 
equivalents  being  nagagu,  hababu,  and  nabu.  Gudea  was 
ruler  at  Zirgulla.  There  are  numerous  inscriptions  of  this 
governor,  but  most  of  them  are  of  the  two  types  translated 
here.  The  records  of  Gudea  are  found  over  a  considerable 
extent  of  country,  and  on  the  sites  of  important  cities. 

INSCRIPTIONS    OF    GUDEA. 

2  "  To  (g.)  NINIP  the  King,  his  King, 

GUDEA  Viceroy  of  (c.)  Zirgulla,  his  house  built." 

3  "To  (g.)  NANA  the  Lady,  Lady  splendid  (?) 

His  Lady,  GUDEA  Viceroy  of  (c.)  Zirgulla raised." 

There  are  two  other  texts  of  this  ruler  in  the  British 

Museum,  one  on  a  black  stone  statue,  the  other  on  a  brick  ; 

these  are  too  mutilated  to  translate. 

5     KU-DUR-NA-AN-HU-UN-DI. 

This  monarch  is  mentioned  by  Assurbanipal  in  the  follow- 
ing passage,4 

1  The  reading"  Gudea  for  the  name  of  this  governor  is  based  on  the 
passage  C.I.,  Vol.  2,  p.  20,  line  24. 

2  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  5,  No.  XXIII,  i,  on   cones  from  Warka.  (Erech)  and 
Babylon. 

3  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  5,  No.  XXIII,  2,  on  a  cone  from  Zerghul  (Zirgulla). 

4  "History  of  Assurbanipal,"  p.  250. 


8  RECORDS   OF   THE   PAST. 

"  KUDUR-NANHUNDI  the  Elamite  who  the  worship 

of  the  great  gods  did  not  (fear), 

who  in  an  evil  resolve  to  his  own  force  (trusted) 

on  the  temples  of  Akkad  his  hands  he  had  laid 

and  he  oppressed  Akkad 

the  days  were  full  .... 

for  2  ner  7  sos  and  15  years  under  the  Elamites." 

This  period,  2  ner  7  sos  15  years,  which  elapsed  from  the 
time  of  Kudur-nanhundi,  equals  1635  years;  according  to 
other  inscriptions,  at  the  close  of  this  period,  Assurbanipal 
conquered  Elam  and  recovered  an  image  of  the  goddess 
Nana,  which  had  been  carried  away  from  Babylonia  in  this 
early  conquest. 

6     ZA-BU-U. 

This  ancient  king  of  Babylonia  is  only  known  to  us  from 
the  broken  cylinder  of  Nabonidus,  according  to  which  he 
founded  the  temples  of  Anunit  (Venus)  and  Samas  (the  Sun) 
at  Sippara ;  these  temples  having  fallen  into  decay,  were 
restored  by  Saga-saltias ;  an  early  Babylonian  monarch,  and 
again  falling  into  decay  one  was  repaired  by  Nabonidus.  The 
notice  of  Zabu  is  as  follows  : 
1 "  Then  Bit-parra  the  house  of 

(g.)  SAMAS  of  (c.)  Sippara  my  Lord, 

and  Bit-ulmas  the  house  of 

(g.)  ANUNIT  of  (c.)  Sippara,  (g.)  ANUNIT  my  Lady,  which 
were  from  the  time  of  ZABU  in  ancient  days ; 

their  chamber  walls  had  fallen  in." 


7     UR(?)-UKH(?). 
According  to  the  statements  of  the  excavators,  the  bricks 

1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  69,  lines  27-31. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF   BABYLONIA.  9 

of  Urukh  were  found  in  the  foundations  of  buildings,  the 
upper  parts  of  which  were  constructed  of  bricks  bearing 
inscriptions  of  other  early  Chaldean  kings ;  the  remains  of 
his  buildings  even  now  exceed  those  of  every  other  Chaldean 
monarch  except  Nebuchadnezzar,  so  that  his  reign  must  have 
been  a  long  and  important  one.1 

Many  of  the  earliest  temples  of  Babylonia  were  founded 
by  Urukh,  among  these  we  may  notice  the  Temple  of  the 
Moon  at  Ur,  and  two  other  buildings  at  the  same  city,  one 
called  Bit-timgal,  the  other  Bit-sareser;  this  latter  was  a 
tower,  built  in  stages  like  a  pyramid.  Urukh  having  died 
before  this  building  was  completed,  it  was  finished  by  his 
son  Dungi;  its  ruins  now  form  the  most  conspicuous  object 
on  the  site  of  Ur.  The  wall  of  the  city  of  Ur  was  also 
built  by  Urukh.  At  Larsa  he  founded  the  Temple  of  the 
Sun,  and  at  Erech  the  Temple  of  Venus,  called  Bit-anna  or 
the  "  House  of  Heaven."  At  Nipur,  the  ancient  capital  of 
Babylonia,  he  founded  or  restored  the  great  Temple  of  Bel, 
and  another  to  Beltis ;  and  at  Zirgulla  he  built  a  temple  to 
Sar-ili  the  "  king  of  the  gods." 

INSCRIPTIONS   OF   URUKH. 

2  "  URUKH  King  of  (c.)  Ur, 

who  the  house  of  (g.}  UR  built." 

3  "  To  (g.)  UR  his  King,  URUKH  King  of  (c.)  Ur 

his  house  built,  and  the  wall  of  (c.)  Ur  built." 

4  "  To  (g.)  UR,  the  lesser  light  of  heaven, 

eldest  son  of  (g.)  BEL  his  king, 

1  The  name  of  this  king  has  been  compared  to  the  Arioch  of  Genesis 
xiv.  I,  and  the  Orchamus  of  Ovid,  but  the  reading  Urukh  is  very  doubtful. 

2  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  i,  No.  I,  i  and  2,  on  bricks  from  Mugheir  (Ur). 

3  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  i,  No.  I,  3,  on  bricks  from  Mugheir. 

4  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  i,  No.  I,  4,  on  cone  from  Mugheir. 


10  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

URUKH  the  powerful  man,  King  of  (c.)  Ur, 
Bit-timgal  the  house  of  his  delight  built." 

1  "  To  (g.)  UR,  eldest  son  of  BEL  his  King, 

URUKH  the  powerful  man,  the  fierce  warrior, 
King  of  (c.)  Ur,  King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad, 
Bit-timgal  the  house  of  his  delight  built." 

2  "  To  (g.)  NANA  his  Lady, 

URUKH  the  powerful  man,  King  of  (c.)  Ur, 
King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad,  her  house  built." 

3  "To  (g.)  SAMAS  his  King, 

URUKH  the  powerful  man,  King  of  (c.)  Ur, 
King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad,  his  house  built." 

4  "To  (g.)  BELAT  his  Lady, 

URUKH  King  of  (c.)  Ur,  King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad, 
her  house  the  ....  of  her  delight  built." 

5  "  URUKH  King  of  (c.)  Ur,  King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad, 

who  the  house  of  (g.)  BEL  built." 
6 "  To  URUKH,  the  powerful  man,  King  of  (c.)  Ur, 

HASSIMIR,  Viceroy  of  (c.)  ISBAGGI(?)-BEL  thy  servant" 
7  "To  (g.)  SAR-ILI  his  King,  URUKH  King  of  (c.)  Ur, .  .  . 

du (in  Zir)-gulla  built." 

8     DUN(?)-GI(?).8 

Dungi  was  the  son  and  successor  of  Urukh ;  he  is  known 
to  have  completed  and  repaired  some  of  his  father's  buildings, 

1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  i,  No.  I,  5,  on  brick  from  Mug-heir. 

2  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  i,  No.  I,  6,  on  brick  from  Warka  (Erech). 

3  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  5,  No.  I,  7,  on  brick  from  Senkerch  (Larsa). 

4  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  i,  No.  I,  8,  on  black  stone  at  Niffer  (Nipur). 

5  C.I.,  Vol.  2,  p.  i,  No.  I,  9,  on  brick  from  Niffer. 

6  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  i,  No.  I,  10,  on  signet  cylinder. 

7  On  unpublished  brick  from  Zerghul(P). 

8  Dungi  king  of  Ur.   The  name  of  one  of  the  Babylonian  cities,  perhaps 
founded  by  him  and  called  after  him,  supplies  the  phonetic  name  of  this 
monarch;  it  is  Dunnu-saidu,  C.I.,  Vol.  2,  p.  48,  line  19. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    BABYLONIA.  II 

but  his  monuments  are  not  nearly  so  numerous.     His  build 
ings  were  principally  at  Ur  and  Erech. 


INSCRIPTIONS    OF   DUNGI. 

1 "  DUNGI,  the  powerful  man,  King  of  (c.)  Ur, 
King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad." 

2  "  DUNGI,  the  powerful  man,  King  of  (c.)  Ur, 

King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad, 

Bit-harris  the  house  of  his  delight  built" 

3  "To  (g.)  NANA,  Lady  of  Bit-anna,  his  Lady, 

DUNGI,  King  of  (c.)  Ur,  King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad, 
Bit-anna  its  site  restored,  its  great  wall  built." 
4 "  To  (g.)  NIN-MAR-KI  his  Lady, 

DUNGI  King  of  (c.)  Ur,  King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad, 
Bit-gilsa  the  fort  of  her  delight  built." 

ON    A    SIGNET   CYLINDER. 
"To  (g.)  SlT-TI-TA-UD-DU-A, 

King  of  Bit-sidda  of  (c.}  Zirgulla, 
for  the  preservation  of  DUNGI  the  powerful  man, 
King  of  (c.)  Ur,  lib  nir  la  gu-za-lal,  son  of  UR-BA-BI, 
made  a  libation(P),  '  My  King  ....  his  will, 
may  his  name  be  preserved." 

ON    A   STONE   WEIGHT,    IN    THE    SHAPE    OF   A    DUCK,5 

"  10  manehs  of  DUNGI." 


1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  2,  No.  II,  i,  on  bricks  from  Mugheir  (Ur). 
C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  2,  No.  II,  2,  on  bricks  from  Mugheir. 

3  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  2,  No.  II,  3,  on  black  stone. 

4  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  2,  No.  II,  4,  on  black  stone  from  Tel  Eed. 

5  Much  worn  and  doubtful. 


12  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

NOTICE  OF  URUKH  AND  DUNGI   IN  A  CYLINDER  OF 
NABONIDUS,  B.C.  555-538. 

1  "  Bit-saresir,  the  tower  of  Bitnergal  which  is  in  (c.)  Ur, 
which  URUKH  the  very  ancient  King  had  built 
and  had  not  finished  it,  DUNGI  his  son  its  top  finished. 
In  the  writings  of  URUKH,  and  DUNGI  his  son, 
I  saw  also  of  that  tower,  URUKH  had  built 
and  had  not  finished  it,  DUNGI  his  son  its  top  finished. 
By  this  time  that  tower  became  old." 2 

9     (GA)-MIL(?)-NIN-IP. 

This  king,  the  first  part  of  whose  name  is  lost,  has  not 
been  noticed,  although  a  fragment  of  one  of  his  inscriptions 
from  Niffer  is  printed  in  the  Cuneiform  Inscriptions,7'  and  is 
there  erroneously  referred  to  Ismidagan. 

This  king,  and  several  of  those  that  follow,  ruled  at  a 
city  called  Nisinna  or  Karrak.4  These  kings  were  -contem- 
porary with  the  rulers  of  Ur  and  Larsa  ;  their  kingdom  was 
destroyed  a  short  time  before  the  reign  of  Hammurabi. 

INSCRIPTIONS  OF  GAMIL(?)-NINIP  ON   BRICKS   FROM  NIFFER 
(NIPUR). 

"  GAMIL(?)-NINIP  exalted  ruler  of  (c.)  Nipur  na  .  .  .  . 
of  (c)  Ur,  .  .  .  .   Lord  of  (c.)  Eridu, 
beneficent  Lord  of  (c.)  Uruk  King  of  (c.)  Karrak, 
King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad, 
the  relative  (?)  the  delight  of  the  eyes  of  (g.)  Nana. 


1  C.I.,  p.  68,  lines  5  to  20. 

2  The  name  of  Dungi  is  mentioned  in  the  name  of  the  town  mentioned 
in  C.I.,  Vol.  2,  p.  60,  line  5,  Bil-dungi-ur. 

3  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  5,  No.  XXIV. 

4  Perhaps  the  same  as  Apirak,  the  site  of  which  is  unknown. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    BABYLONIA.  13 

10     IS-BI-BAR-RA. 

This  king  is  mentioned  on  an  unpublished  fragment  in 
the  British  Museum  :  the  line  reads 
"  ISBI-BARRA,  King  of  (c.)  Karrak." 

ii     LI-BI-IT-ANUNIT. 

The  name  of  this  king,  imperfect  in  the  Museum  publica- 
tion, is  completed  from  one  of  the  cones.  Its  first  element 
libit  is  a  well-known  form  of  the  Semitic  root  p^>,  the  second 
element  is  the  name  of  the  Babylonian  Venus,  the  name 
meaning  "  the  work  of  Venus,"  or  "  fashioned  by  Venus." 

INSCRIPTION    OF    LIBIT    NANA. 

1 "  LIBIT-ANUNIT,  first  Ruler  of  (c.)  Nipur, 

the  supreme  over  (c.)  Ur,  .  .  .  .  of  (c.)  Eridu, 
beneficent  Lord  of  (c.}  Uruk,  King  of  (c.)  Karrak, 
King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad,  the  restorer  of  (g.)  NANA, 
who  Bit-mekit  restored." 

12     IS-MI-DA-GAN.2 

This  name  is  Semitic,  and  means  "  Dagon  heard."  Sir  H. 
Rawlinson  has  suggested  that  this  Ismi-dagan  was  the  same 
as  the  Ismi-dagan  patasi  of  Assur,  who  according  to  the 
Tiglath-Pileser  cylinders,  reigned  in  the  iQth  century  B.C. 
This,  however,  is  doubtful,  but  it  is  possible  they  may  be  of 
about  the  same  age. 

1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  5,  No.  XVIII. 

2  Ismi-dagan  or  Gung-unu.     The  relationship  or  supposed  relationship 
between  these  two  kings  has  puzzled  me  very  much,  and  I  am  now  more 
uncertain  than  ever  about  these  inscriptions.    It  is  difficult  to  suppose  that 
the  text  on  the  bricks,  which  is  generally  considered  to  be  Gungunu's,  can 
really  be  his;   and   I   have  some  doubts  whether  the  character^ which 
precedes  the  name  of  Ismi-dagan  really  means  son.    These  bricks  are, 
however,  fast  decaying,  so  that  they  can  no  longer  be  relied  upon  to  prove 
a  contested  point. 


14  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

INSCRIPTIONS    OF    ISMI-DAGAN. 

1  "  ISMI-DAGAN,  nourisher  of  (c.)  Nipur, 

the  supreme  over  (c.)  Ur,  the  light  (?)  of  (c.)  Eridu, 
Lord  of  (c)  Uruk  (the  powerful  King), 
King  of  (c.)  Karrak,  King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad, 
the  relative(P)  the  delight  of  NANA." 

13     GU-UN-GU-NU-U. 

Gungunu  was  son  of  Ismi-dagan,  but  some  students  hold 
the  view  that  he  was  only  contemporary  with  a  son  of  Ismi- 
dagan,  who  was  ruler  of  Ur.  The  matter  is  not  proved  on 
either  side,  but  on  examination  of  the  originals  of  these 
inscriptions,  I  find  the  published  copies  incorrect  in  one 
point,  the  supposed  second  title  "  ruler  of  Ur,"  is  really 
"within  Ur."  The  second  inscription  is  very  peculiar,  the 
characters  stand  in  relief,  contrary  to  the  Babylonian  cus- 
tom, and  in  one  copy  are  reversed,  reading  from  right  to 
left  instead  of  left  to  right. 

INSCRIPTIONS    OF   GUNGUNU. 

2  "  To  (g.)  SAMAS,  the  -ruler  tuda  (g.)  UR, 

leader  of  Bit-nirkinugal  (g.)  NINGAL  ra  tuda  his  Kings 
for  the  preservation  of  GUNGUNU  the  powerful  man, 
King  of  (c.)  Ur,  for  the  establishing  of  (g.)  ANU, 
for  the  restoring  of  (g.)  UR  for  (g.)  UR  within  (c.)  Ur, 
the  son  of  ISMI-DAGAN  King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad, 
Bit-hiliani  built,  Bit-ginablungani  built, 
for  his  preservation  he  built." 

1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  2,  No.  V.  i  and  2,  from  Mug-heir  (Ur). 

2  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  2,  No.  VI,  i,  on  a  cone  from  Mugheir. 


EARLY   HISTORY   OF    BABYLONIA.  15 

1 "  For  the  establishing  of  (g.)  ANU, 
for  the  delight  of  (g.)  UR  for  (g.)  UR  within  (c.)  Ur, 
the  son  of  ISMI-DAGAN  King  of  Sumir  and  Akkad." 

14     ILU ZAT. 

The  name  of  this  monarch  is  found  on  the  cast  of  a 
signet  cylinder  in  the  British  Museum.  The  name  of  his 
capital  is  lost  by  a  fracture  of  the  cylinder,  but  he  is  placed 
here  provisionally  on  account  of  the  similarity  of  his  legend 
to  those  of  the  kings  of  Karrak. 

INSCRIPTION    OF    ILU ZAT   ON    A    SIGNET    CYLINDER. 

"  ILU  ....  ZAT  King the  relative  the  delight  of 


15     RI-IS-VUL. 

No  monument  of  this  king  is  known,  he  was  the  last 
king  of  Apirak.2 

1 6     GAMIL-SIN. 

This  king,  and  many  of  the  following  ones,  have  their 
names  compounded  with  Sin,  the  moon  god,  but  while  in  the 
inscriptions  this  deity  is  always  worshipped  under  the  name 
Ur,  whenever  he  enters  into  the  composition  of  a  Semitic 
name,  it  is  under  the  form  Bil-zu  or  Sin.  The  name  of  the 
moon  god  is  once  phonetically  written  in  a  proper  name 
on  a  sale  tablet  in  the  British  Museum,  it  reads,  Si-in. 
The  name  of  Gamil-sin  in  its  phonetic  form  occurs  as  the 
name  of  a  private  person  in  the  time  of  the  monarch 
Samsu-iluna,  the  phonetic  form  is,  Ga-mil-sin.  One  of 

1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  2,  No.  VI,  2,  on  bricks  from  Mugheir. 

2  See  Naram-sin,  No.  30. 


1 6  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

the  earliest  contract  tablets  in  the  British  Museum  is  dated 
in  the  reign  of  Gamil-sin. 

INSCRIPTIONS    OF    GAMIL-SIN. 

1  "  To  GAMIL-SIN  the  powerful  man, 

King  of  (c.)  Ur,  King  of  the  four  regions, 

AMIL-ANU  the  tablet  writer,  son  of  GANDU,  thy  servant." 

ON    THE    SOCKET    OF    A    GATE    (UNPUBLISHED). 

"  To  (g.)  NU-GAN  his  noble  one, 

GAMIL-SIN  the  delight  of  (g.)  BEL  King  of  (c.)  Nipur, 

in  the  delight  of  his  heart  he  blessed  ; 

the  powerful  King,  King  of  (c.)  Ur, 

King  of  the  four  regions,  his  house  built" 

A  city  named  after  Gamil-sin  is  mentioned  in  C.I.,  Vol.  2, 
page  60,  line  17. 

17     ZUR(?)-SIN. 

This  king,  the  phonetic  value  of  whose  name  is  uncertain, 
from  the  great  similarity  of  his  legends,  is  probably  closely 
connected  with  Gamil-sin;  Zur-sin  was  probably  deified  after 
his  death,  as  his  name  occurs  in  a  list  of  gods.2  Many  of 
the  inscriptions  of  Zur-sin  have  been  found  at  a  ruin  called 
Abu-shahrein,  which  appears  to  have  been  entirely  built  by 
him. 

INSCRIPTIONS    OF  ZURSIN. 

3  "  ZUR-SIN,  BEL  the  Nipurite  blessed, 
the  leader  of  the  house  of  (g.)  BEL, 
the  powerful  King,  King  of  (c.)  Ur, 


1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  3,  No.  XI,  from  a  signet  cylinder. 

2  C.I.,  Vol.  3,  p.  69,  line  17. 

3  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  3,  No.  XII,  i,  from  Abu-shahrein  and  Mug-heir. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    BABYLONIA.  17 

King  of  the  four  regions,  (g.)  HEA  the  King 
his  delight  the  ....  of  his  delight  he  built" 

1  "ZuR-siN  the  Nipurite  (g.)  BEL  blessed, 

the  leader  of  the  house  of  (g.)  BEL, 
the  powerful  man,  King  of  (<:.}  Ur, 
King  of  the  four  regions." 

2  "  ZUR-SIN  the  Nipurite  (g.)  BEL  blessed, 

the  leader  of  the  house  of  (g.)  BEL,  the  powerful  King, 

King  of  (c.)  Ur,  King  of  the  four  regions, 

ma-tu-ba  ZUR-SIN  the  delight  of  (c.)  Ur, 

mu-bi-ki-ri  ma-tu-ba  who  ki-du-su-bi  tu-da-ab-kur-ri-a 3 

Bit-sigabi  nikaria  of(g.)  UR  King  of  (<r.)  Ur, 

NINGAL  mother  of  (c.)  Ur,  delight  of  the  heart 

of  the  great  god  of  Dur  he  built  tu-be-li-ni" 

1 8     I-BIL-SIN  AND  A-BIL-SIN. 

The  first  of  these  forms  is  found  on  an  unpublished  frag- 
ment of  the  Chaldean  work  on  Astrology,  the  passage  reads 
"IBIL-SIN  King  of  Ur."  The  second  form  occurs  in  the 
-Cuneiform  Inscriptions?  and  several  private  persons  bearing 
the  same  name  are  mentioned  in  early  inscriptions.  I  have 
conjectured  that  these  two  names  belong  to  the  same 
monarch,  but  there  is  little  except  the  similarity  of  sound  to 
lead  to  this  opinion. 

19     BELAT(?)-SUNAT(?). 

This  name,  the  reading  of  which  is  doubtful,  represents 
the  earliest  known  queen  in  the  Euphrates  valley ;  she  is 
only  mentioned  in  the  inscriptions  of  her  son  Sin-gasit. 


1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  3,  No.  XII.  2,  from  Abu-shahrein. 

3  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  5,  No.  XIX,  from  Mug-heir. 

3  The  exact  rendering-  of  the  passage  here  transliterated  is  uncertain. 

4  C.I.,  Vol.  3,  p.  38,  line  64. 


1 8  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

20     SIN-GA-SI-IT. 

Sin-gasit  ruled  at  Urukh  (Warka),  he  is  the  king  called 
Sinsada  by  Sir  H.  Rawlinson.  All  his  memorials  have  been 
found  at  his  capital  city,  where  he  rebuilt  the  temple  of 
Venus,  which  had  been  founded  by  Urukh,  and  constructed 
a  palace  for  himself. 

INSCRIPTIONS    OF    SIN-GASIT. 

1  "  SIN-GASIT,  son  of  BELAT-SUNAT 

King  of  (c.)  Uruk,  builder  of  Bit-anna." 

2  "  SINGASIT  the  powerful  man,  King  of  (c.}  Uruk, 

King  of  Amnanu,  the  palace  of  his  royalty  built." 

ON  AN  UNPUBLISHED  CONE  FROM  WARKA. 

"  To  (g.)  SAR-TUR-DA  his  god, 
and  BELAT-SUNAT  his  mother, 
SIN-GASIT  King  of  (c.)  Uruk,  King  of  Amnanu, 
nourisher  of.  Bit-anna,  who  Bit-anna  built, 
Bit-kirib  Bit-kiba,  lib  tid-la  ka-ne-ne, 
he  built  for  the  prolonging  of  his  kingdom, 
he  built  1 8  segur  12  manehs  of  dukta(f) 
10  manehs  of  bronze  as-ni  the  house, 
silver  like  a  mountain  i  shekel  of 

silver its  name  he  called, 

giving  delight  and  pleasure  (?). 

2 1     SI-IM-TI-SI-IL-HA-AK. 

This  ruler  is  only  known  from  the  inscriptions  of  his  son 
Kudur-mabuk  ;  his  name  is  probably  Elamite. 

1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  3,  No.  VIII,  i,  from  Warka. 

2  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  3,  No.  VIII,  2,  from  Warka. 


EARLY    HISTORY   OF   BABYLONIA.  19 

22     KU-DU-UR-MA-BU-UK.1 

Kudur-mabuk  has  been  conjectured  to  have  some  con- 
nection with  the  Chedorlaomer  of  Genesis,,  and  the  term  abda 
Martu  has  been  supposed  to  refer  to  that  monarch's  Syrian 
conquests,  but  a  careful  inspection  of  the  inscription  shows 
that  abda  is  an  error  of  the  lithograph  copy,  the  original 
having  ad-da,  instead.  The  word  adda,  from  its  use  in 
some  of  these  inscriptions,  appears  to  bear  the  meaning 
king  or  lord,  in  addition  to  its  usual  meaning  father, 
hence  the  kindred  forms  adgar  and  adgi  are  rendered 
malaku  in  Assyrian,  meaning  prince  or  ruler.  Kudur- 
mabuk  was  adda  or  lord  of  Syria  and  lord  of  Yamutbal. 
The  word  Yamutbal,  which  has  long  been  a  puzzle  to 
me,  I  find,  from  a  bilingual  passage  on  K  112,  to  meam 
Elam,  so  that  this  ruler  claimed  dominion  over  the  whole 
country  from  Syria  to  Elam.  Kudur-mabuk,  from  the  num- 
ber of  his  inscriptions  and  the  extent  of  his  dominion, 
appears  to  have  been  an  important  monarch,  but  although 
the  monuments  of  this  period  are  inscribed  with  his  name  as 
lord  paramount,  he  did  not  reign  personally  in  Babylonia. 
The  crown  of  that  country  he  bestowed  on  his  son  Ardu-sin, 
whom  he  names  with  himself  in  his  inscriptions,  and  on 
whom  he  invokes  the  blessings  of  the  Babylonian  deities. 
Besides  the  texts  translated  here,  there  are  two  other  in- 
scriptions of  Kudur-mabuk,  one  on  a  bronze  statue  of  a 
goddess  in  the  Louvre,  and  the  other  on  a  clay  cylinder  in 
the  British  Museum. 


1  Kudur-mabuk  lord  of  Elam.  The  inscriptions  of  the  period  of  Kudur- 
mabuk  recall  to  the  mind  the  account  in  Genesis  of  Chedorlaomer,  who 
ruled  from  Elam  to  the  Mediterranean.  The  name  of  Chedorlaomer  in 
Babylonian  would  be  Kudur-lag-amar.  The  early  Babylonian  inscriptions 
confirm  the  statements  of  Genesis  as  to  the  power  and  importance  of 
Elam  at  this  period. 


20  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

INSCRIPTION    OF    KUDUR-MABUK. 

1  "  To  (g.)  UR  his  King  :  KUDUR-MABUK  Lord  of  Syria, 
son  of  SIMTI-SILHAK,  worshipper  of  (g.)  UR, 
his  protector  marching  before  him,  Bit-rubmah, 
for  his  preservation  and  the  preservation  of 
ARDU-SIN  his  son,  King  of  Larsa,  they  built." 

1  C.I.,  Vol.  i,  p.  2,  No.  Ill,  from  Mug-heir. 
(To  be  continued  in   Vol.    V.,  December  1875.) 


TABLET  OF  ANCIENT  ACCADIAN   LAWS. 


TRANSLATED    BY 

REV.    A.    H.    SAYCE. 


r"THE  Accadians  were  the  inventors  of  the  cuneiform 
system  of  writing  and  the  earliest  population  of 
Babylonia  of  whom  we  know.  They  spoke  an  agglu- 
tinative language  allied  to  Finnic  or  Tatar,  and  had 
originally  come  from  the  mountainous  country  to 
the  south-west  of  the  Caspian.  The  name  Accada 
signifies  "  highlander,"  and  the  name  of  Accad  is 
met  with  in  the  loth  chapter  of  Genesis.  The  laws, 
of  which  a  translation  is  given  below,  go  back  to  a 
very  remote  period  ;  and  the  patriarchal  character  of 
society  implied  by  them  will  be  noticed,  as  well  as 
the  superior  importance  possessed  by  the  mother, 
denial  of  whom  by  the  son  involved  banishment  in 
contrast  with  the  milder  penalty  enjoined  for  renun- 
ciation of  the  father.  This  importance  of  the  mother 
in  family-life  is  still  a  distinguishing  feature  of  the 
Finnic-Tatar  race.  The  slave,  it  will  be  seen,  was 
already  placed  to  some  extent  under  the  protection 
of  the  state,  and  the  first  step  on  the  road  towards 
the  amelioration  of  his  condition  had  been  made. 


22  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  tablet  which  contains 
these  laws  is  given  in  the  Vol.  II.  pi.  10,  Cuneiform 
Inscriptions  of  Western  Asia.  Other  fragments,  since 
discovered,  have  been  lithographed  by  M.  Frangois 
Lenormant  in  his  Choix  de  Textes  Cuneiformes  Part  I. 
No.  15.  The  original  Accadian  text  runs  down  the 
left-hand  column,  an  Assyrian  translation  being  an- 
nexed on  the  right.  The  several  laws  are  divided  by 
lines,  and  come  at  the  end  of  a  bilingual  collection  of 
ancient  documents  of  different  kinds  but  chiefly  re- 
lating to  law.  They  are  introduced  by  a  list  of 
Accadian  legal  terms  with  their  Assyrian  equivalents. 
The  whole  was  compiled  for  Assur-bani-pal's  Library. 
Mr.  Fox  Talbot  was  the  first  to  point  out  the  nature 
of  the  inscription  ;  and  I  gave  a  translation  of  the 
published  portions  of  it  in  the  Athciuzum  for  May 
1869,  which  was  supplemented  by  Mr.  G.  Smith  in  a 
later  number  of  the  same  periodical.  Translations  of 
the  most  important  part  of  it  have  been  recently 
given  by  M.  Oppert  in  the  Journal  Asiatique,  yiemc 
serie,  I.  and  M.  F.  Lenormant  in  La  Magie  chez  le 
Chaldccns  pp.  310,  311. 

The  first  and  second  columns,  on  the  obverse  of  the 
tablet,  are  unfortunately  too  mutilated  for  translation. 
It  is  therefore  only  the  two  last  columns,  on  the 
reverse,  of  which  a  rendering  is  appended. 


23 
TABLET  OF  ANCIENT  ACCADIAN  LAWS. 


i  A  certain  man's1  brother-in-law  hired  (workmen)  and 
on  his  foundation  built  an  enclosure.  From  the  house 
(the  judge)  expelled  him. 


2  In  every  case  let  a  married  man  put  his  child  in 
possession  of  property,  provided  that  he  does  make  him 
inhabit  it. 


3  For  the  future  (the  Judge  may)  cause  a  sanctuary  to  be 
erected  in  a  private  demesne. 

4  (A  man)  has  full  possession  of  his  sanctuary  in  his  own 
high  place. 

5  The  sanctuary  (a  man)  has  raised  is  confirmed  to  the 
son  who  inherits. 


6     Effaced. 


7  His  father  and  his  mother  (a  man)  shall  not  (deny). 

8  A  town  (a  man)  has  named ;   its  foundation-stone  he 
has  not  laid;   (yet)  he  (can)  change  it. 


9     This  imperial  rescript  must  be  learnt. 


TO     Everything  which    a    married   woman    encloses,    she 
(shall)  possess. 

ii     In  all  cases  for  the  future  (these  rules  shall  hold  good). 


12     .A  decision.     A  son  says  to  his  father  :  Thou  art  not 

1  Literally  "  his  brother-in-law."    These  legal  precedents  ought  to  have 
a  special  interest  for  the  Englishman. 


24  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

my  father,  (and)  confirms  it  by  (his)  nail-mark  (on  the 
deed) ;  he  gives  him  a  pledge,1  and  silver  he  gives  him. 

13  A  decision.     A  son  says  to  his  mother:    Thou  art  not 
my  mother ;   his  hair  is  cut  off,  (in)  the  city  they  exclude 
him  from  earth  (and)  water2  and  in  the  house  imprison  him.3 

14  A  decision.     A  father  says  to  his  son  :    Thou  art  not 
my  son ;   in  house  and  brick  building  they  imprison  him. 

15  A  decision.     A  mother  says  to  her  son  :  Thou  art  not 
my  son  ;   in  house  and  property  they  imprison  her. 

1 6  A  decision.     A  woman  is  unfaithful  to  her  husband 
and  says   to   him  :  Thou  art  not  my  husband  ;  into  the 
river  they  throw  her. 


17     A  decision.     A  husband  says  to  his  wife  :  Thou  art  not 
my  wife  ;  half  a  maneh  of  silver  he  weighs  out  (in  payment). 


1 8  A  decision.  A  master  kills  4  (his)  slaves,5  cuts  them  to 
pieces,  injures  their  offspring,6  drives  them  from  the  land 
and  makes  them  small ; 7  his  hand  every  day  a  half- 
measure  of  corn  measures  out  (in  requital). 

The  writing  (of  this  tablet  is)  as  above,  (beginning;) 
"  every  dawn,  an  oath."  Seventh  tablet  (of  the  series  which 
begins  :)  "to  be  with  him." 

(Copy)  belonging  to  Assyria,  like  its  old  (text  is)  it 
written  and  engraved.  The  country  of  ASSUR-BANI-PAL 
(SARDANAPALUS),  the  mighty  King,  King  of  Assyria. 

'  In  the  Assyrian  version  "he  recognises  his  pledge  to  him." 
"   In  the  Assyrian  version  "  they  humble  him." 

In  the  Assyrian  version  "they  expel  him." 

In  the  Assyrian  version  "  saws  asunder  and  kills." 

In  the  Assyrian  version  "a  slave." 

In  the  Assyrian  version  "beats." 

In  the  Assyrian  version  "makes  ill." 


SYNCHRONOUS 
HISTORY  OF  ASSYRIA  AND   BABYLONIA. 


TRANSLATED    BY 

REV.    A.    H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 


'T'HE  Tablet  translated  below  is  rather  a  collection 
of  brief  notices  relating  to  the  occasions  on  which 
Assyria  and  Babylonia  came  into  contact  with  one 
another  than  a  synchronous  history  in  the  proper 
sense  of  the  word.  No  dates  are  given,  and  long 
periods  of  time  are  passed  over  in  silence  ;  but  the 
chronological  order  in  which  the  events  are  arranged, 
and  the  synchronisms  established  between  various 
kings  of  the  two  countries  furnish  a  valuable  basis  for 
reconstructing  the  framework  of  their  history,  when 
helped  out  by  other  inscriptions.  Unlike  the  larger 
part  cf  the  library  to  which  it  belonged,  this  tablet 


26  RECORDS    OF   THE   PAST. 

was  originally  composed  by  Assyrian  scribes,  as  the 
purely  Assyrian  point  of  view  from  which  each  oc- 
currence is  regarded  would  show,  and  is  posterior  to 
the  eighth  century  B.C.  The  document  is  unfor- 
tunately very  incomplete,  and  the  translations  which 
follow  are  made  from  a  number  of  fragments  now 
in  the  British  Museum.  The  principal  portion  of 
them  is  to  be  found  in  the  Cuneiform  Inscriptions  of 
Western  Asia,  Vol.  ii.,  pi.  65  ;  a  piece  which  formed 
the  upper  portion  of  the  tablet  is  given  in  the  third 
volume,  No.  3  ;  while  the  remaining  fragments  are 
still  unpublished.  The  document  was  translated  by 
myself  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Society  of  Biblical 
A rchceology,  Vol.  ii.,  Pt.  I,  and  extensive  quotations 
from  it  have  been  given  by  Mr.  G.  Smith  in  the 
Transactions  of  the  same  Society,  Vol.  i.,  Pt.  i. 

A  short  review  of  our  materials  for  determining  the 
early  chronology  of  Assyria  may  not  be  out  of  place 
here.  The  years  were  counted  by  eponymes  called 
limmi,  like  the  arkhons  at  Athens  ;  and  the  fac:  that 
the  inscription  of  Rimmon-nirari,  Records  of  the  Past, 
Vol.  i.,  p.  i,  the  great-grandson  of  Assur-yupalladh,  is 
dated  in  the  eponymy  of  Shalmanurris,  proves  the 


SYNCHRONOUS    HISTORY    OF   ASSYRIA,    ETC.  27 

antiquity  of  this  method  of  marking  time.  We  thus 
have  a  guarantee  of  the  trustworthiness  of  the  statement 
made  by  Sennacherib  that  a  seal  which  belonged  to 
Tiglath-Adar,  the  grandson  of  Rimmon-nirari,  was  car- 
ried off  in  war  to  Babylon  600  years  before  his  own 
capture  of  that  city  and  therefore  about  1 300  B.C.  Still 
greater  authority  is  given  to  the  precise  dates  of  701 
years,  which  according  to  Tiglath-Pileser  I.  elapsed 
between  the  foundation  of  the  temple  of  Anu  and 
Rimmon  at  Assur  by  Samas-Rimmon  and  his  own 
restoration  of  it,  and  of  418  years  which  the  Bavian 
inscription  states  was  the  interval  between  the  defeat  of 
the  same  Tiglath-Pileser  by  the  Babylonians  and  Sen- 
nacherib's invasion  of  Chaldea  in  B.C.  692.  Samas- 
Rimmon,  however,  was  not  king  of  Assyria,  nor  even, 
perhaps,  a  member  of  the  Semitic  race ;  he  was 
merely  the  petty  sovereign  of  the  city  of  Assur,  the 
Ellasar  of  Genesis,  and  the  wide  tract  of  country 
afterwards  known  as  Assyria  was  still  designated  by 
the  vague  title  of  Gutiun  (or  Goim  as  it  appears  in 
Gen.  xiv.  i).  The  kingdom  of  Assyria,  therefore,  did 
not  come  into  existence  until  after  B.C.  1800,  and  the 
accurate  calculation  of  time  which  enabled  Tiglath- 


28  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

Pileser  to  fix  the  date  of  his  predecessor  must  have 
been  of  Babylonian  origin.  This  agrees  well  with 
our  finding  that  in  the  inscriptions  of  Assur-bani-pal 
Cudur-Nankhundi,  sometimes  translitered  Kudur-nan- 
hundi,  the  Elamite  is  said  to  have  "oppressed  Accad  " 
just  1635  years  before  his  own  conquest  of  Elam. 
A  precise  chronological  record,  accordingly,  seems 
to  have  been  kept  first  in  Babylonia  and  afterwards 
in  Assyria  from  a  period  which  dates  back  beyond  the 
second  millenium  B.C.  It  may  be  added  that  the  early 
Babylonians  made  use  also  of  important  events  like 
the  capture  of  a  city  or  the  inundation  of  a  river  as 
chronological  starting-points  ;  while  legal  documents, 
as  might  be  expected,  reckoned  by  the  regnal  years  of 
the  king  in  whose  lifetime  they  were  drawn  up. 


29 


SYNCHRONOUS  HISTORY  OF  ASSYRIA  AND 
BABYLONIA. 


Only  the  ends  of  the  lines  which  begin  the  tablet  have  been 
discovered,  and  the  first  legible  fragment  of  the  inscription  is  as 
follows  : — 

Obverse  Col.  I. 

1  CARA-INDAS,'  King  (of  Gan-duniyas2), 

2  and  ASSUR-BIL-NISI-SU,  King  of  Assyria,  a  covenant 

3  between  them  with  one  another  established ; 

4  and  a  pledge  with  regard  to  the  boundaries  as  fixed 
above3  to  one  another  gave. 

5  BuzuR-AssuR,  King  of  Assyria,  and  BURNA-BURYAS, 

6  King  of  Gan-duniyas,  made  an  ordinance,  and  common 

7  boundaries  as  aforesaid  fixed. 

8  In  the  time   of  ASSUR-YUPALLADH,  King  of  Assyria, 
CARA-MURDAS, 

9  King  of  Gan-duniyas,  son  of  MUPALLIDHAT-SERUA 

10  the  daughter  of  ASSUR-YUPALLADH,  men  of  the  Cassi 

1 1  revolted  against,  and  slew  him.     NAZI-BUGAS 

12  a  man  of  low  parentage  to  the  kingdom  to  (be)  over 
them  they  raised.  „ 

1  Cara-indas,  Burna-buryas,  and  Cara-murdas  belonged  to  the  Cassi  or 
Kossaeans,  an  Elamite  tribe  which  had  conquered  Babylonia  under  Kham- 
muragas.  They  seem  to  represent  the  Arabian  dynasty  of  Berosus,  and 
made  Babylon  their  capital.  The  dynasty  was  finally  overthrown  by  the 
Assyrian  king  Tiglath-  Adar,  son  of  Shalmaneser,  who  captured  Babylon 
and  established  a  line  of  Semitic  kings  there  in  the  I4th  century  B.C.  The 
transactions  recorded  in  the  present  passage  probably  took  place  about 
100  years  previously. 

a  Gan-duniyas  (also  called  Gun-duni),  "  the  enclosure  "  or  "  fortress  of 
Duni "  was  Western  Chaldeea,  the  city  of  Babylon  having  received  that 
name  from  some  Cassite  prince  or  deity. 

3  Literally,  "  as  aforesaid."   This  refers  to  a  preceding  passage  now  lost. 


30  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

13  (BEL-NiRARi,1  King  of  Assyria,  to)  exact  satisfaction 

14  (for  CARA-MURDAS)  to  Gan-duniyas  went ; 

1 5  (NAZI-BUGAS,  King  of  Gan-duniyas)  he  slew  ; 

1 6  (CURI-GALZU,2  SOn  Of)  BURNA-BURYAS, 

17  (on  the  throne  he  seated.) 

Lacuna 

1  NAZi-URUDA'is,3  King  of  Gan-duniyas, 

2  (at)  Car-Istar-agarsal  (Tiglath-Adar)  smote  : 

3  (a  destruction)  of  NAZI-URUDA'IS  he  made 

4  (when  in)  the  neighbourhood  of  the  city  of  Akhi-rabi-su 
he  had  come. 

5  These  common  boundaries 

6  (from)  above  the  country  of  Pilaz 

7  (to)  the  river  Tigris,  (and)  the  city  of  Arman-agarsal 

8  (in  the  mountains  they  appointed  and  fixed. 


King  of  Gan-duniyas, 


10     in  the  might  of  battle 


Lacuna. 

1  He  was  the  son  of  Assur-yupalladh,  and  according  to  an  inscription 
broug-ht  back  from  Kalah-Sherghat  by  Mr.  G.  Smith  "destroyed  the  army 
of  the  Cassi,  and  the  spoil  of  his  enemies  his  hand  captured." 

2  Inscriptions  of  Curi-galzu  have  been  found  in  Babylonia,  in  which  he 
calls  himself  son  of  Burna-buryas;   his,  consequently,  must  be  the  name 
to  be  supplied  here.  ' 

3  Mr.  G.  Smith  (Athenceum  June  20,  1874)  believes  that  this  was  the  last 
king"  of  the  Cassite  dynasty  who  was   overthrown  by  Tiglath-Adar.      In 
that  case,  this  fragment  must  be  placed  here,  and  Tiglath-Adar  would  be 
the  Assyrian  king  whose  name  has  to  be  supplied,     ft  must  be  confessed, 
however,  that  such  a  view  is  not  altogether  free  from  difficulties. 


SYNCHRONOUS    HISTORY   OF   ASSYRIA,    ETC.  31 

COLUMN   II. 

1  his  servants  he  made  (them) 

2  as  far  as  the  city  of  Kullar.1 

3  BEL-CHADREZZAR,  King  of  Assyria,  (ADAR-PILESER) 

4  had  slain.    BEL-CHADREZZAR  did  RiMMON-(pAL-iDDiNA2 
avenge). 

5  in  the  midst  of  that  conflict  ADAR-PILESERS  (was  de- 
feated, and) 

6  to  his  country  returned.      His   forces  (RIMMON-PAL- 
IDDINA  collected,  and) 

7  to  Nineveh  to  capture  (it)  went. 

8  in  the  midst  of  it  he  fought  \   he  turned  about  and  (to 
his  country  returned). 

9  In  the   time   of  ZAMAMA-SUMA-IDDIN,   King  (of  Gan- 
duniyas,) 

10  AssuR-DAYAN,4  King  of  Assyria,  to  Gan-duniyas  (went). 

1 1  (The  cities)  of  Zaba,  Irriya,  (and)  Agarsal  he  (captured ;) 

12  (their  spoil)  in  abundance  to  Assyria  (he  carried.) 

Lacuna. 


1  These  lines  may  possibly  still  refer  to  the  conquest  of  Tiglath-Adar. 

2  The  name  of  Rimmon-pal-iddina,  King"  of  Babylonia,  has  been  supplied 
here  by  an  ingenious  conjecture  of  Mr.  G.  Smith.* 

3  Adar-Pileser  was  king  of  Assyria,  and  it  is  plain  that  he  was  forced  to 
retreat  to  Nineveh,  which  was  captured  by  Rimmon-pal-iddina;   a  fact 
which  the  Assyrian  historian  describes  euphemistically.     It  was  probably 
upon  this  occasion  that  the  seal  of  Tiglath-Adar  was  carried  off  to  Baby- 
lon, from  which  it  was  brought  back  600  years  afterwards  by  Sennacherib. 
Adar-pileser  was  the  father  of  Assur-dayan.      Tiglath-Pileser  I.  says  of 
him  that  "  he  cleared  away  his  enemies  like  pea-fowl  over  the  country,  and 
organised  the  armies  of  Assyria." 

4  Assur-dayan  is  called  by  Tiglath-Pileser  I.  "  the  lifter  up  of  the  pre- 
cious sceptre,  the  pursuer  of  the  people  of  Bel  (the  Babylonians),  who 
had  conferred  the  work  of  his  hand  and  the  gift  of  his  fingers  upon  the 
great  gods,  and  had  attained  to  old  age  and  length  of  years," 


32  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

1  Thereupon   to    his    land    (ASSUR-RIS-ILIM)  '   returned. 
After  him  (NEBOCHADREZZAR) 

2  carried  his  armaments.    To  the  passes  of  the  border  of 
(Assyria) 

3  to  conquer  he  went.     ASSUR-RIS-ILIM,  King  of  Assyria, 

4  his  chariots  mustered  against  him  to  go. 

5  NEBOCHADREZZAR,   when   the   armaments  do  not   ad- 
vance, his  baggage  with  fire  burned ; 

6  he  turned  about  and  to  his  country  returned. 

7  The  same  NEBOCHADREZZAR  (with)  chariots  and  teams 
to  the  defences  of  the  border 

8  of  Assyria  to  conquer  went.     ASSUR-RIS-ILIM 

9  chariots  (and)  teams  for  assistance  sent  forth. 

i  o     With  him  he  fought ;   a  destruction  of  him  he  made ; 
his  soldiers  he  smote  ; 

11  his  camp  he  plundered;  forty  of  his  harnessed  chariots 
they  had  brought  back  ; 

1 2  one  standard  that  went  before  his  host  they  had  taken. 

13  TiGLATH-PiLESER,2  King  of  Assyria,  MERODACH-IDDIN- 
AKHI,  King  of  Gan-duniyas, 

14  a  second  time  (with)  a  squadron  of  chariots,  as  many 
as  in  the  city  of  the 

1 5  lower  Zab  in  sight  of  the  city  of  Arzukhina  he  made, 

1 6  in  the  second  year  on  the  shore  of  the  sea  which  (is) 
above  Accad,3  smote. 

1  Assur-ris-ilim,  the  grandson  of  Assur-dayan  and  father   of  Tiglath- 
Pileser  I.,  has  been  ingeniously  identified  by  Sir  H.  Ravvlinson  with  the 
Biblical  Cushan-rish-athaim,  whose  name,  as  it  stands,  is  certainly  corrupt. 
Tiglath-Pileser  calls  him  "  the  powerful  king,  conqueror  of  foreign  lands, 
subduing  all  wickedness." 

2  Tiglath-Pileser  I.  has  left  a  detailed  account  of  his  exploits  in  the 
cylinder  inscription  which  was  translated  in  1857  by  Sir  H.   Rawlinson, 
Mr.  Fox  Talbot,  Dr.  Hincks,  and  M.  Oppert.     Sennacherib  states  that  he 
was  carried  captive  to  Babylon  by  Merodach-iddin-akhi  418  years  before 
his  own  invasion  of  Babylonia  (that  is  about  mo  B.C.). 

3  Accad  was  south-eastern  Chaldea,  and  the  sea  referred  to  the  Persian 
Gulf. 


SYNCHRONOUS    HISTORY   OF    ASSYRIA,    ETC.  33 

1 7  The  cities  of  Dur-curigalzu,  Sippara  of  the  Sun, 

1 8  Sippara  of  Anunit,1 

19  Babylon,  (and)  Opis,  great  strongholds, 

20  together  with  their  citadels,  he  captured. 

21  In  those  days  the  city  of  Agar'sal 

22  as  far  as  Lubdi  he  devastated  ; 

23  the  land  of  the  'Sukhi3  as  far  as  the  city  of  Rapik  to 
(its)  whole  extent  (he  conquered). 


24  In  the  time  of  AssuR-BiL-CALA,3  (King  of  Assyria,) 

25  (and)  MERODACH-SAPIC-CULLAT,  King  of  Gan-duniyas, 

26  (friendship  and  complete)  alliance 

27  (with  one  another)  they  made. 

28  (In  the  time  of  ASSUR-BIL-)CALA,  King  of  (Assyria), 

29  (MERODACH-SAPIC-CULLAT,  King  of)  Gan-duniyas   his 
death  (seized). 

30  SADUNI,  the  son  of  a  nobody, 

3 1  (to  the  kingdom  over)  them  they  raised. 

32  (ASSUR-BIL-CALA),  King  of  Assyria, 

33  (to  Gan-duniyas)  went  down ; 

34  (its  spoil)  to  Assyria  he  brought 

Then  follows  a  lacuna.  The  mutilated  reverse  begins  in  the 
middle  of  a  reign. 

1  The  two  Sipparas  (whence  the  dual  Sepharvaim  of  Scripture)  seem 
to  have  been  on  opposite  sides  of  the  river,  like  Buda-Pesth.  The  site 
is  represented  by  the  modern  Sura. 

3  The  'Sukhi  or  Shuhites  seem  to  have  lived  to  the  south  of  Babylonia, 
near  the  junction  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates. 

3  Assur-bil-cala  was  the  son  of  Tiglath-pileser  I.  In  a  mutilated  in- 
scription he  claims  the  conquest  of  the  land  of  the  West,  or  Palestine. 
A  brother  of  his,  who  ascended  the  throne  either  before  or  after  him,  was 
Samas-Rimmon,  the  repairer  of  the  Temple  of  the  goddess  of  Nineveh. 


VOL.  III. 


34  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

COLUMN   III. 

1     Nebo-suma-iscun 

2     fought ;  a  destruction  of  him  he  made 

3  (The  cities)  of  Bam-bala  (and)  Khudadu 

4  (and)  many  (other)  cities 

5  (he  captured,  and)  their  spoil  in  abundance 

6  (to  Assyria)  took. 

7     NIMATI  his  death  constrained. 

8     their  daughters  to  one  another 

they  gave. 

9  (Friendship  and)  complete  alliance  with  one  another 
they  (made). 

10  (The  men  of)  Assyria  (and)  Accad  with  one  another 
trafficked. 

1 1  From  the  mound  of  Bit-ban  which  (is)  above  the  city 
of  the  Zab 

12  to    the  mound  of  BATANI  and  of  the  city  Zabdani1  a 
boundary  line  they  fixed. 

13  (In  the  time)  of  SHALMANESER,"  King  of  (Assyria,) 

14  (and  NEBO-)PAL-IDDINA,  King  of  Gan-duniyas, 

15  friendship  (and)  complete  alliance 

1 6  (with)  one  another  they  made.    In  the  time  of  SHALMA- 
NESER,  King  (of  Assyria), 

17  (NEBO-)PAL-IDDINA  his  death  constrained  ; 

1 8  MERODACH-SUMA-IDDIN  on  the  throne  of  his  father  sat. 

19  MERODACH-BIL-USATE,  his  brother,  against  him  revolted. 

20  (The  city  of  Ah)daban  he  took;  the  land  of  Accad 

21  (strongly)  he  had  fortified.      SHALMANESER,  King  of 
(Assyria,) 

1  Both  Bit-bari  and  Zabdani  were  situated  near  the  Lower  Zab,  the 
Caprus  of  classical  geographers. 

2  This  is  the  king  whose  inscription  on  the  monolith  found  at  Kurkh  is 
translated  in  the  present  volume. 


SYNCHRONOUS    HISTORY   OF    ASSYRIA,    ETC.  35 

22  to  the  assistance  of  MERODACH-SUMA-IDDIN, 

23  King  of  Gan-duniyas,  went. 

24  MERODACH-BIL-USATE  the  King  he  slew. 

25  The  rebel  (leaders)  who  (were)  with  him  he  smote. 

26  (In)  Cuthah,  Babylon, 

27  (and  Borsippa  sacrifices  he  made.)1 

Lacuna. 

1  (In  the  time  of  MERODACH-BALADHSU-IKBI),  King  of 
Gan-duniyas, 

2  (SAMAS-)RiMMON,2  King  of  Assyria, 

3  (a  destruction  of  MERODACH-BALADHSU-)IKBI  made. 

The   last    fragment    forms    the    concluding   portion    of  the 
whole  tablet  :— 

1  Men  (and)  spoil  to  his  places  he  brought  back ; 

2  a  permanent  bond  of  habitations  he  fixed  for  them. 

3  The  men  of  Assyria  (and)  Gan-duniyas  with  one  another 
(trafficked). 

4  Eighty  common   boundary-stones    he    established   (as 
follows)  : 

5  "  May  the  prince  hereafter  who  in  Accad  .... 

6  shall  establish  it  and  the  plunder  of  conquest  (shall 
carry  off) 

7  write  ;  and  to  this  inscribed  stone  (which  contains) 

8  the  ordinance  and  to  the  sacred  images  above  it  which 

9  the  army  has  inscribed  may  he  listen,  and 

10     the  laws  of  Assyria  may  they  protect  to  (future)  days. 

1  This  is  restored  from  the  account  which  the  king  gives  of  his 
Babylonian  expedition  upon  the  Black  Obelisk. 

8  This  is  the  king  whose  monolith  inscription  I  have  translated  in  the 
first  vol.  of  Records  of  the  Past,  pp.  g-22.  His  expedition  against  Merodach- 
baladhsu-ikbi  is  described  in  the  fourth  column  of  the  inscription. 


3  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

1 1  May  he  who  Sumir  and  Accad  shall  rule 

12  interpret  them  to  all  races." 

Colophon. 

(Written  out  for  the  palace  of  ASSUR-BANI-PAL)  King  of 
Assyria. 


ANNALS     OF    ASSUR-NASIR-PAL. 
(SOMETIMES  CALLED  SARDANAPALUS.) 


TRANSLATED,  WITH  NOTES, 
By    REV.    J.    M.    RODWELL,    M.A., 

RECTOR     OF     ST.    ETHELBURGA,    B.C. 


CONCERNING  Assur-nasir-habal  or  Assur-nasir-pal 
^(i.e.,  Assur preserves  the  son)  we  possess  fuller  histori- 
cal records  than  of  any  other  of  the  Assyrian  monarchs, 
and  among  these  the  following  inscription  is  the  most 
important  From  it,  and  from  the  inscription  upon 
his  statue  discovered  by  Mr.  Layard I  in  the  ruins  of 
one  of  the  Nimroud  temples,  we  learn  that  he  was  the 
son  of  Tuklat-Adar  or  Tuklat-Ninip,  that  he  reigned 
over  a  territory  extending  from  the  "Tigris  to  the 
Lebanon  and  that  he  brought  the  great  sea  and  all 
countries  from  the  sun-rise  to  the  sun-set  under  his 
sway."  These  inscriptions  are  published  in  the 
Cuneiform  Inscriptions  of  Western  Asia,  Vol.  i, 
pi.  17-27,  and  were  partially  translated  by  Professor 
Oppert  Histoire  des  Empires  de  Chaldee  et  d'Assyrie, 
p.  73  and  foil.  Extrait  des  Annales  de  philosophic 
ckre'tienneTom.  ix,  1865. 

There  is  considerable  difficulty  and  a  consequent 
divergence  of  opinion,  as  to  the  precise  date  when 
Assur-nasir-pal  ascended  the  throne.  But  he  most 
probably  reigned  from  883-858  B.C. 

1  Now  in  the  British  Museum. 


38  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

It  need  scarcely  be  remarked  that  Assur-nasir-pal 
is  a  different  person  from  the  well  known  Sardana- 
palus  of  classic  writers  or  Assur-bani-pal,  the  son  of 
Esar-haddon  who  reigned  from  about  B.C.  668-625. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  inscription  that  the 
campaigns  of  Assur-nasir-pal  took  place  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Armenia,  in  Commagene  and  the  provinces  of 
the  Pontus,  inhabited  by  the  Moschi l  and  other 
tribes.  He  probably  advanced  into  Media  and  a 
portion  of  Western  Persia.  The  countries  on  the 
banks  of  the  Euphrates  submitted  to  his  arms,  and  in 
one  of  his  expeditions  he  vanquished  Nabu-bal-iddin 
king  of  Babylon.  Westward,  he  reduced  the  southern 
part  of  Syria,  and  advanced  to  the  mountain  chains 
of  the  Amanus  and  Lebanon,  but  though  he  pene- 
trated as  far  as  to  Tyre  and  Sidon  and  exacted 
tribute  from  both  as  well  as  from  Byblus  and 
Aradus,  he  did  not  subdue  Phoenicia.  The  kingdoms 
of  Israel  and  Judah,  under  the  sway  of  Ahab  and 
Jehosaphat  were  no  doubt  too  powerful,  as  is  evinced 
by  the  armies  which  they  must  have  maintained  for 
their  struggle  with  the  Syrians2  for  Assur-nasir-pal  to 
have  ventured  upon  attacking  them.  This  feat  was 
reserved  for  his  successors  on  the  throne  of  Assyria. 

The  inscription  was  found  in  the  ruins  of  the 
Temple  at  the  foot  of  the  Pyramid  at  Nimroud 
(Calach). 

1  The  Mesek  of  Psalm  cxx.  5. 

2  See  2  Chron.  xvii.  and  following"  chapters. 


39 
ANNALS   OF  ASSUR-NASIR-PAL. 


1  To  NiNiP1  most  powerful  hero,  great,  chief  of  the  gods, 
warrior,  powerful  Lord,  whose   onset  in  battle  has  not 
been  opposed,  eldest  son, 

2  crusher  of  opponents,   first-born   son  of  NUKIMMUT,2 
supporter  of  the  seven,3  noble  ruler,  King  of  the  gods  the 
producers,  governor,  he  who  rolls  along  the  mass 

3  of  heaven  and  earth,  opener  of  canals,  treader  of  the 
wide  earth,  the  god  who  in  his  divinity  nourishes  heaven 
and  earth,  the  beneficent, 

4  the  exalted,  the  powerful,  who  has  not  lessened  the 
glory  of  his  face,4  head  of  nations,  bestower  of  sceptres, 
glorious,  over  all  cities  a  ruler,5 

5  valiant,  the  renown  of  whose  sceptre  is  not  approached, 
chief  of  wide  spread  influence,   great  among  the  gods, 
shading  from  the  southern  sun,   Lord  of  Lords,  whose 
hand  the  vault  of  heaven 

6  (and)  earth  has  controlled,  a  King  in  battle  mighty6 
who  has  vanquished  opposition,  victorious,  powerful,  Lord 
of  water  courses  and  seas,7 

1  Ninip  was  one  of  the  great  gods  of  the  Assyrian  Pantheon,  often  joined 
with  Assur  as  one  of  the  special  deities  invoked  by  the  Assyrian  kings  at 
the  opening  of  their  inscriptions.  His  name  is  also  written  under  the 
symbol  used  for  iron  (parzil).  Thus  in  later  times  the  planets  were  con- 
nected with  special  metals. 

*  A  goddess,  called  also  Nuha,  and  the  mother  of  Nebo  as  well  as  of 
Ninip.  Fox  Talbot  (Gloss.  158)  compares  nu  (=  al)  kimmut  with  the 
"  al-gum"  of  Prov.  xxx.  31,  i.e.,  "irresistible." 

3  Planets.     Or,  ivarrior  among  spirits.     I  mention  this  rendering  as  the 
suggestion  of  Mr.  G.  Smith,  though  I  prefer  that  given  above. 

4  Literally  "  horn."     Cf.  Job  xvi.  15. 

5  Tigallu.     Menant  renders  this  sentence  La  massue  pour  regner  sur  les 
villes. 

6  Cf.  Ps.  xxiv.  8. 

7  Cf.  Ps.  xcv.  4 ;  civ.  6 ;  cvii.  35. 


40  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

7  strong,  not  yielding,  whose  onset  brings  down  the  green 
corn,  smiting  the  land  of  the  enemy,  like  the  cutting  of 
reeds,  the  deity  who  changes  not  his  purposes, 

8  the  light  of  heaven  and  earth,  a  bold  leader  on  the 
waters,  destroyer  of  them  that  hate  (him),  a  spoiler  (and) 
Lord  of  the  disobedient,  dividing  enemies,  whose  name 
in  the  speech  of  the  gods 

9  no  god  has  ever  disregarded,  the  gatherer  of  life,  the 
god  (?)  whose  prayers  are  good,  whose  abode  is  in  the  city 
of  Calah,  a  great  Lord,  my  Lord — (who  am)  ASSUR-NASIR- 
PAL,  the  mighty  King, 

10  King  of  multitudes,  a  Prince  unequalled,  Lord  of  all 
the   four   countries,    powerful    over   hosts    of    men,    the 
possession  of  BEL  and  NINIP  the  exalted  and  ANU 

11  and  of  DAKAN/  a  servant  of  the  great   gods  in  the 
lofty  shrine  for  great  (O  NINIP)  is  thy  heart ;  a  worshipper 
of  BEL  whose  might  upon 

1 2  thy  great  deity  is  founded,  and  thou  makest  righteous 
his  life,  valiant,  warrior,  who  in  the  service  of  ASSUR  his 
Lord  hath  proceeded,  and  among  the  Kings 

13  of  the  four  regions  who  has  not  his  fellow,  a  Prince  for 
admiration,  not  sparing  opponents,  mighty  leader,  who  an 
equal 

1 4  has  not,  a  Prince  reducing  to  order  his  disobedient  ones, 
who   has  subdued  whole    multitudes    of  men,   a    strong 
worker,  treading  down 

1 5  the  heads  of  his  enemies,  trampling  on  all  foes,  crushing 
assemblages  of  rebels,  who  in  the   service   of  the  great 
gods  his  Lords 

1 6  marched  vigorously  and  the  lands  of  all  of  them  his 
hand  captured,  caused  the  forests  of  all  of  them  to  fall,2 
and  received  their  tribute,  taking 

1  Probably  the  Dagxm  of  Scripture. 

3  Compare  the  boast  in  Isaiah  xxxvii.  24,  "  I  cut  down  the  tall  cedars." 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  41 

1 7  securities,  establishing  laws  over  all  lands,  when  ASSUR 
the  Lord  who   proclaims   my  name   and   augments  my 
Royalty 

1 8  laid  hold  upon  his  invincible  power  for  the  forces  of 
my    Lordship,     for    ASSUR-NASIR-PAL,    glorious    Prince, 
worshipper  of  the  great  gods 

1 9  the  generous,  the  great,  the  powerful,  acquirer  of  cities 
and  forests  and  the  territory  of  all  of  them,   King  of 
Lords,  destroying  the  wicked,  strengthening 

20  the  peaceful,  not  sparing  opponents,  a  Prince  of  firm 
will  (?)  one  who  combats  oppression,  Lord  of  all  Kings, 

21  Lord   of  Lords,  the   acknowledged,    King   of  Kings, 
seated    gloriously,   the    renown   of   NINIP    the    warrior, 
worshipper  of  the   great   gods,   prolonging   the  benefits 
(conferred  by)  his  fathers  : 

22  a  Prince  who  in  the  service  of  ASSUR  and  the  Sun-god, 
the  gods  in  whom  he  trusted,  royally  marched  to  turbulent 
lands,  and  Kings  who  had  rebelled  against  him 

23  he  cut  off  like  grass,  all  their  lands  to  his  feet  he  sub- 
jected, restorer  of  the  worship  of  the  goddesses  and  that 
of  the  great  gods, 

24  Chief  unwavering,  who  for  the  guidance  of  the  heads 
(and)  elders  of  his  land  is  a  steadfast  guardian,  the  work  of 
whose  hands  and 

25  the  gift  of  whose  finger  the  great  gods  of  heaven  and 
earth  have  exalted,  and  his  steps '  over  rulers  have  they 
established  for  ever ; 

26  their  power  for  the  preservation  of  my  Royalty  have 
they  exercised ;   the  retribution  of  his  power,  (and)  the 
approach  of  His  Majesty  over  Princes 

27  of  the  four  regions  they  have  extended  :  the  enemies  of 
ASSUR  in  all  their  country,  the  upper  and  the  lower  I 
chastised,  and  tribute  'and  impost 

1  Goings.    Cf.  Ps.  xl.  2,  "  He  hath  established  my  goings." 


42  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

28  upon  them   I   established,    capturing   the    enemies    of 
ASSUR — mighty  King,  King  of  Assyria,  son  of  TUKLAT- 
ADAR  who  all  his  enemies 

29  has   scattered;    (who)   in   the    dust   threw    down    the 
corpses  of  his  enemies,  the  grandson  of  BIN-NIRARI,  the 
servant  of  the  great  gods, 

30  who  crucified  alive  and  routed  his  enemies  and  subdued 
them  to  his  yoke,  descendant  of  ASSUR-DAN-IL,  who  the 
fortresses 

31  established    (and)   the    fanes    made    good.      In   those 
days  by  the  decree '  of  the  great  gods  to  royalty  power 
supremacy  I  rose  up  : 

32  I  am  a  King,  I  am  a  Lord,  I  am  glorious,  I  am  great, 
I  am  mighty,  I  have  arisen,  I  am  Chief,  I  am  a  Prince,  I 
am  a  warrior 

33  I  am  great  and  I  am  glorious,  ASSUR-NASIR-HABAL,  a 
mighty   King  of  Assyria,   proclaimer  of  the    Moon-god, 
worshipper  of  ANU,  exalter  of  YAV,"  suppliant  of  the  gods 

34  am  I,  servant  unyielding,  subduing  the  land  of  his  foe- 
man,  a   King  mighty  in  battle,  destroyer  of  cities    and 
forests, 

35  Chief  over  opponents,  King  of  the  four  regions,  expeller 
of  his  foes,  prostrating  all  his  enemies,  Prince  of  a  multi- 
tude of  lands  of  all  Kings 

36  even  of  all,  a  Prince  subduing  those   disobedient  to 
him,   who   is  ruling  all   the   multitudes   of  men.     These 
aspirations  to  the  face  of  the  great  gods 

37  have  gone  up;    on  my  destiny  steadfastly  have   they 
determined ;  at  the  wishes  of  my  heart  and  the  uplifting 
of  my  hand,  ISTAR,  exalted  Lady, 

38  hath  favoured  me  in  my  intentions,  and  to  the  conduct 

1  Mouth. 

-  The  god  Yav  may  be  the  Yavch  of  the  Moabite  stone. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  43 

of  (my)  battles  and  warfare  hath  applied  her  heart.  In 
those  days  I  ASSUR-NASIR-PAL,  glorious  Prince,  worshipper 
of  the  great  gods 

39  the  wishes  of  whose  heart  BEL  will  cause  him  to  attain, 
and  who  has  conquered  all  Kings  who  disobey  him,  and 
by  his  hand  capturing 

40  his  enemies,  who  in  difficult  places  has  beaten  down 
assemblages  of  rebels ;   when  ASSUR,  mighty  Lord,  pro- 
claimer  of  my  name 

41  aggrandizer  of  my  royalty  over  the  Kings  of  the  four 
regions,  bountifully  hath  added  his  invincible  power  to 
the  forces  of  my  government, 

42  putting  me  in  possession  of  lands,  and  mighty  forests 
for  exploration  hath  he  given  and  urgently  impelled  me — 
by  the  might  of  ASSUR  my  Lord, 

43  perplexed  paths,  difficult  mountains  by  the  impetuosity 
of  my  hosts  I   traversed,  and  an  equal  there  was   not. 
In  the  beginning  of  my  reign 

44  (and)  in  my  first  campaign  when  the  Sun-god  guider  of 
the  lands  threw  over  me  his  beneficent  protection1  on 
the  throne   of  my  dominion   I  firmly  seated  myself;    a 
sceptre 

45  the  dread  of  man  into  my  hands  I  took ;  my  chariots 
(and)  armies   I   collected;  rugged  paths,  difficult  moun- 
tains, which  for  the  passage 

46  of  chariots  and  armies  was  not  suited  I  passed,  and  to 
the  land  of  Nairi 2  I  went :   Libie,  their  capital  city,  the 
cities  Zurra  and  Abuqu 

47  Arura  Arubie,  situated  within  the  limits  of  the  land  of 
Aruni  and  Etini,  fortified  cities,  I  took,  their  fighting-men 

48  in  numbers  I  slew ;  their  spoil,  their  wealth,  their  cattle 

1  Or,  shade.     This  may  refer  to  the  eclipse  of  I3th  July,  885  B.C. 

A  federation  of  states  north  and  north-east  of  Assyria  at  the  head  of 
the  Euphrates.     In  Tig.  iv.  7,  33  of  their  kings  are  mentioned. 


44  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

I  spoiled;  their  soldiers  were  discouraged;  they  took 
possession  of  a  difficult  mountain,  a  mountain  exceedingly 
difficult ;  after  them 

49  I  did  not  proceed,  for  it  was  a  mountain  ascending  up 
like  lofty  points  of  iron,  and  the  beautiful  birds  of  heaven 
had  not  reached  up  into  it :  like  nests 

50  of  the  young  birds  in  the  midst  of  the  mountain  their 
defence  they  placed,  into  which  none  of  the  Kings  my 
fathers  had  ever  penetrated  :  in  3  days 

51  successfully  on  one  large  mountain,  his  courage  van- 
quished opposition  :   along  the  feet  of  that  mountain  I 
crept  and  hid  :  their  nests,  their  tents, 

52  I  broke  up;  200  of  their  warriors  with  weapons  I  de- 
stroyed ;  their  spoil  in  abundance  like  the  young  of  sheep 
I  carried  off; 

53  their  corpses  like  rubbish  on  the  mountains  I  heaped 
up;  their  relics  in  tangled  hollows  of  the  mountains  I 
consumed ;  their  cities 

54  I  overthrew,  I  demolished,  in  fire  I  burned :  from  the 
land  of  Nummi  to  the  land  of  Kirruri  I  came  down ;  the 
tribute  of  Kirruri 

55  of  the  territory  of  Zimizi,  Zimira,  Ulmanya,  Adavas, 
Kargai,  Harmasai,  horses,1  fish  (?) 

56  oxen,  horned  sheep  in  numbers,  copper,  as  their  tribute 
I  received  :  an  officer  to  guard  boundaries  2  over  them  I 
placed.     While  in  the  land  of  Kirruri 

57  they  detained  me,  the  fear  of  ASSUR  my  Lord  over- 
whelmed the  lands  of  Gilzanai  and  Khubuskai;  horses, 
silver 

58  gold,  tin,  copper,  kams  of  copper  as  their  tribute  they 
brought  to  me.     From  the  land  of  Kirruri  I  withdrew ; 

1  Lit.  animals  of  the  East.     This  looks  as  if  the  Assyrians  obtained  the 
horse  from  some  Eastern  land. 

2  Or,  a  Viceroy. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  45 

59  to  a  territory  close  by  the  town  Khulun  in  Gilhi  r-Bitani 
I  passed  :  the  cities  of  Khatu,  Khalaru,  Nistun,  Irbidi, 

60  Mitkie,  Arzanie,  Zila,  Khalue,  cities  of  Gilhi  situated  in 
the  environs  of  Uzie  and  Arue 

6 1  and  Arardi  powerful  lands,  I  occupied:  their  soldiers 
in  numbers  I  slew;  their  spoil,  their  riches  I  carried  off; 

62  their  soldiers  were  discouraged;  the  summits  projecting 
over  against  the  city  of  Nistun  which  were  menacing  like 
the  storms  of  heaven,  I  captured ; 

63  into  which  no  one  among  the  Princes  my  sires  had  ever 
penetrated ;  my  soldiers  like  birds  (of  prey)  rushed  upon 
them; 

64  260  of  their  warriors  by  the  sword  I  smote  down;  their 
heads  cut  off  in  heaps  I  arranged ;  the  rest  of  them  like 
birds 

65  in  a  nest,  in  the  rocks  of  the  mountains  nestled ;  their 
spoil,  their  riches   from   the  midst  of  the  mountains  I 
brought  down ;  cities  which  were  in  the  midst 

66  of  vast  forests  situated  I  overthrew,  destroyed,  burned  in 
fire;  the  rebellious  soldiers  fled  from  before  my  arms;  they 
came  down;  my  yoke 

67  they  received ;    impost   tribute   and   a  Viceroy  I  set 
over  them.     BUBU  son  of  BUBUA  son  of  the  Prefect  of 
Nistun 

68  in  the  city  of  Arbela  I  flayed ;  his  skin  I  stretched  in 
contempt  upon  the  wall.    At  that  time  an  image  of  my 
person  I  made;  a  history  of  my  supremacy 

69  upon  it  I  wrote,  and  (on)  a  mountain  of  the  land  of 
Ikin  (?)   in  the   city   of  ASSUR-NASIR-PAL  at    the  foot  I 
erected  (it).     In  my  own.  eponym  in  the  month  of  July2 
and  the  24th  day  (probably  B.C.  882). 

70  in  honour  of  ASSUR  and  ISTAR  the   great  gods   my 

1  A  mountainous  country  near  the  upper  Tigris,  possibly  Kurdistan. 

2  The  Hebrew  month  Ab. 


46  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

Lords,  I  quitted  the  city  of  Nineveh  :   to  cities  situated 
below  Nipur  and  Pazate  powerful  countries 

71  I  proceeded;  Atkun,  Nithu,  Pilazi,  and  20  other  cities 
in  their  environs   I   captured ;  many  of  their  soldiers   I 
slew; 

72  their   spoil,  their   riches    I    carried    off;    the    cities    I 
burned  with  fire ;  the  rebel  soldiers  fled  from  before  my 
arms,  submitted, 

73  and  took  my  yoke ;  I  left  them  in  possession  of  their 
land.     From  the  cities  below  Nipur  and  Pazate  I  with- 
drew ;  the  Tigris  I  passed ; 

74  to  the  land  of  Commagene  I  approached ;  the  tribute 
of  Commagene  and  of  the   Moschi1  in  kams  of  copper, 
sheep  and  goats  I  received ;  while  in  Commagene 

75  I  was  stationed,  they  brought  me  intelligence  that  the 
city  Suri  in  Bit-Khalupe  had  revolted.     The  people   of 
Hamath  had  slain  their  governor 

76  AHIYABABA  the  son  of  LAMAMANA*  they  brought  from 
Bit-Adini  and  made  him  their  King.     By  help  of  ASSUR 
and  YAV 

77  the  great  gods  who  aggrandize  my  royalty,   chariots, 
(and)  an  army,  I  collected :  the  banks  of  the  Chaboras  3  I 
occupied;  in  my  passage  tribute 

78  in  abundance  from  SALMAN-HAMAN-ILIN  of  the  city  of 
Sadikannai  and  of  IL-YAV  of  the  city  of   Sunai,4  silver, 
gold, 

79  tin,  kam  of  copper,  vestments  of  wool,  vestments   of 

1  In  the  text,  Kummuhi  and  Muski. 

2  Dr.  Hincks  was  of  opinion  that  Lamaman  meant  "  nobody  ;"  and  that 
"  Son  of  Lamaman  "  was  a  delicate  way  of  indicating  a  man  of  low  origin. 
Norr.  Diet.  p.  690. 

3  Assyrian,  Khalur.    This  may  be  the  Chebar  mentioned  in  the  Prophet 
Ezekiel.     Schultens  however  (in  his  Geogr.)  mentions  another  Chaboras 
which  flows  into  the  Tigris. 

4  In  the  north 'of  Mesopotamia. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  47 

linen  I  received.     To  Suri  which  is  in  Bit-Halupe  I  drew 
near; 

80  the   fear  of  the  approach  of  ASSUR  my  Lord   over- 
whelmed them;  the  great  men  and  the  multitudes  of  the 
city,  for  the  saving  of  their  lives,  coming  up  after  me,1 

8 1  submitted  to  my  yoke ;  some  slain,  some  living,  some 
tongue-less  I  made  :  AHIYABABA  son  of  LAMAMANA 

82  whom  from  Bit-Adini  they  had  fetched,  I  captured ;  in 
the   valour   of  my   heart   and   the   steadfastness   of  my 
soldiers  I  besieged  the  city ;  the  soldiers,  rebels  all, 

83  were    taken   prisoners;    the   nobles   to   the    principal 
palace  of  his  land  I  caused  to  send ;  his  silver,  his  gold, 
his  treasure,  his  riches,  copper 

84  (?)    tin,  kams,  tabhani,  hariati  of  copper,  choice  copper 
in  abundance,  alabaster  and  iron-stone  of  large  size 

85  the  treasures  of  his  harem,  his  daughters  and  the  wives 
of  the  rebels  with  their  treasures,  and  the  gods  with  their 
treasures, 

86  precious  stones  of  the  land  of  .  .  .  . ,  his  swift  chariot, 
his  horses,   the  harness,   his   chariot-yoke,   trappings  for 
horses,  coverings  for  men, 

87  vestments  of  wool,  vestments  of  linen,  handsome  altars 
of  cedar,  handsome  .  .  .  .  ,  bowls  of  cedar-wood, 

88  beautiful  black  coverings,   beautiful  purple  coverings, 
carpets,   his  oxen,   his  sheep,  his  abundant  spoil,  which 
like  the  stars  of  heaven  could  not  be  reckoned, 

89  I   carried  off;   AZIEL  as  my  lieutenant  over  them   I 
placed;  a  trophy  along  the  length  of  the  great  gate   I 
erected  :  the  rebellious  nobles 

90  who  had  revolted  against  me  and  whose  skins  I  had 
stripped  off,  I  made  into  a  trophy :  some  in  the  middle  of 
the  pile  I  left  to  decay ;  some  on  the  top 

91  of  the  pile  on  stakes  I  impaled;  some  by  the  side  of 

1  Lit.,  to  my  back. 


48  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

the  pile  I  placed  in  order  on  stakes ;  many  within  view  of 
my  land 

92  I  flayed  ;  their  skins  on  the  walls  I  arranged ;  of  the 
officers  of  the  King's  officer,  rebels,  the  limbs  I  cut  off; 

93  I  brought  AHIYABABA  to  Nineveh ;   I  flayed,1  him  and 
fastened  his  skin  to  the  wall ;  laws  and  edicts 

94  over  Lakie  I  established.     While  I  was  staying  in  Suri 
the  tribute  of  the  Princes  of  Lakie  throughout  the  whole 
of  them, 

95  silver,  gold,  tin,  copper,  kam  of  copper,  oxen,  sheep, 
vestments  of  wool  and  linen,  as  tribute 

96  and  gift,  I  defined  and  imposed  upon  them.     In  those 
days,  the  tribute  of  KHAYANI  of  the  city  of  Hindanai, 
silver, 

97  gold,  tin,  copper,  amu-stone,  alabaster  blocks,  beautiful 
black  (and)  lustrous  coverings  I  received  as  tribute  from 
him.     In  those  days  an  enlarged  image 

98  of  my  Royalty  I  made ;  edicts  and  decrees  upon  it  I 
wrote ;  in  the  midst  of  his  palace  I  put  it  up ;  of  stone 
my  tablets  I  made ; 

99  the  decrees  of  my  throne   upon   it  I  wrote ;    in  the 
great  gate  I  fixed  them,  in  the  date  of  this  year  which 
takes  its  name  from  me,  in  honour  of  A'SSUR  my  Lord 
and  NINIP  who  uplifts  my  feet2 

100  Whereas  in  the  times  of  the  Kings  my  fathers  no  man 
of  Suhi  to  Assyria  had  ever  come,  IL-BANI   Prince  of 
Suhi  together  with  his  soldiers 

1 01  (and)  his  son,  silver,  gold  as  his  tribute  to  Nineveh  in 
abundance  brought :  in  my  own  eponym 3  at  the  city  of 
Nineveh  I  stayed  :  news 

1  Compare  2  Mace.  vii.   7  for  a  somewhat  similar  proceeding-.      The 
custom  may  also  be  alluded  to  in  Mic.  iii.  3. 
*  Compare  Ps.  Ixxiv.  3,  "  Lift  up  thy  feet,"  etc. 
3  About  882  B.C. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  49 

102  they  brought  me  that  men  of  the  land  of  Assyria,  (and) 
HULAI  the  governor  of  their  city  which  SHALMANESER 
King  of  Assyria  my  predecessor 

103  to  the  city  of  Hasiluha  had  united,  had  revolted : 
Dandamusa *  a  city  of  my  dominion  marched   out    to 
subdue  (them); 

104  in  honour  of  ASSUR,  the  Sun-god  and  YAV,  the  gods  in 
whom  I  trust,  my  chariots  and  army  I  collected  at  the 
head  of  the  river  Zupnat,  the  place  of  an  image 

105  which  TiGLATH-PiLESER  and  TIGLATH-ADAR,  Kings 
of  Assyria  my  fathers    had   raised ;   an   image   of  My 
Majesty  I  constructed  and  put  up  with  theirs. 

1 06  In  those  days  I  renewed  the  tribute  of  the  land  of 
Izala,  oxen,  sheep,  goats  :    to  the  land  of  Kasyari 2   I 
proceeded,  and  to  Kinabu 

107  the  fortified  city  of  the  province  of  Hulai.     I  drew 
near;  with  the  impetuosity  of  my  formidable  attack  I 
besieged  and  took  the  town ;  600  of  their  fighting  men 

1 08  with  (my)  arms  I  destroyed;  3000  of  their  captives  I 
consigned  to  the  flames  ;  as  hostages  I  left  not  one  of 
them  alive ;  HULAI 

109  the  governor  of  their  town  I  captured  by  (my)  hand 
alive ;  their  corpses  into  piles  I  built ;  their  boys  and 
maidens  I  dishonoured; 

no     HULAI  the  governor  of  their  city  I  flayed  :  his  skin  on 

the  walls  of  Damdamusa  I  placed  in  contempt ;  the  city 

I  overthrew  demolished,  burned  with  fire  ; 
in     the  city  of  Mariru  within  their  territory  I  took;   50 

warrior  fighting  men  by  (my)  weapons  I  destroyed ;  200 

of  their  captives  in  the  flame  I  burned ; 
112     the  soldiers  of  the  land  of  Nirbi  I  slew  in  fight  in  the 

1  Near  the  modern  Diarbekir,  on  the  road  to  the  sources  of  the  Supnat. 

2  In  Armenia  near  the  sources  of  the  Tigris. 

VOL.  III.  5 


50  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST., 

desert;  their  spoil,  their  oxen,  their  sheep,  I  brought 
away ;  Nirbu  which  is  at  the  foot  of  mount  Ukhira 

113  I  boldly  took ;  I  then  passed  over  to  Tila  their  forti- 
fied city;  from  Kinabu  I  withdrew;  to  Tila  I  drew  near; 

114  a  strong  city  with  three  forts  facing  each  other:  the 
soldiers  to  their  strong  forts  and  numerous  army  trusted 
and  would  not  submit ; 

115  my  yoke  they  would  not  accept;  (then,)  with  onset 
and  attack  I  besieged  the  city ;  their  fighting  men  with 
my  weapons  I  destroyed  ;  of  their  spoil, 

1 1 6  their  riches,  oxen  and  sheep,  I  made  plunder ;  much 
booty  I  burned  with  fire ;  many  soldiers  I  captured  alive ; 

117  of  some  I  chopped  off  the  hands  and  feet ;  of  others 
the  noses  and  ears   I   cut  off;  of  many  soldiers  I  de- 
stroyed the  eyes ; r 

1 1 8  one  pile  of  bodies  while  yet  alive,  and  one  of  heads  I 
reared  up  on  the  heights  within  their  town ;  their  heads 
in  the  midst  I  hoisted ;  their  boys 

(Continued  on   Column  \\.) 

1  Thus  in  2  Kings  xxv.  7,  we  read  that  the  Chaldees  "put  out  the  eyes  of 
Zedekiah."  Samson,  Judges  xvi.  21,  was  similarly  treated.  And  the 
custom  may  be  alluded  to  in  Num.  xvi.  14.  It  may  be  well  to  compare 
the  treatment  of  children  as  recorded  in  Joshua  xi.  14  with  what  we  read 
in  line  118.  Horrible  and  ferocious  as  was  the  treatment  of  the  conquered 
by  the  Israelites  they  at  least  on  that  occasion  were  content  with  enslaving 
the  children. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  51 

COLUMN    II. 

1  and  their  maidens  I  dishonoured,  the  city  I  overthrew, 
razed  and  burned  with  fire, 

In  those  days  the  cities  of  the  land  of  Nirbi 

2  (and)  their  strong  fortresses,  I  overthrew,  demolished, 
burned  with  fire  :  from  Nirbi  I  withdrew  and  to  the  city 
Tuskha 

3  I  approached ;   the  city  of  Tuskha  I  again  occupied ; 
its  old  fort  I  threw  down :  its  place  I  prepared,  its  dimen- 
sions I  took ;  a  new  castle 

4  from  its  foundation  to  its  roof  I  built,  I  completed,  I 
reared :   a  palace  for  the  residence  of  My  Royalty  with 
doors  of  iki  wood  I  made ; 

5  a  palace  of  brick  from  its  foundations  to  its  roof  I 
made,  I  completed :  a  complete  image  of  my  person  of 
polished  stone  I  made ;  the  history 

6  of  my  surpassing  nation  and  an  account  of  my  con- 
quests which  in  the  country  of  Nairi  I  had  accomplished 
I  wrote  upon  it ;  in  the  city  of  Tuskha 

7  I  raised  it ;  on  suitable  stone  I  wrote  and  upon  the 
wall  I  fixed  it;  (then)  the  men  of  Assyria,  those  who  from 
the  privation  of  food  to  various  countries 

8  and  to  Rurie  had  gone  up,  to  Tuskha  I  brought  back 
and  settled  there  :  that  city  to  myself 

9  I  took ;  the  wheats  and  barleys  of  Nirbi  I  accumulated 
in  it ;  the  populace  of  Nirbi  who  before  my  arms  had  fled, 

10  returned  and  accepted  my  yoke;  of  their  towns,  their 
Viceroys,  their  many  convenient  houses  I  took  possession ; 
impost  and  tribute,  horses, 

1 1  horses  for  the  yoke,  fish,  oxen,  sheep,  goats  in  addition 
to  what  I  had  before  settled,  I  imposed  upon  them ;  their 
youths  as  hostages 

1 2  I  took.    While  I  was  staying  in  Tuskha,  I  received  the 


52  RECORDS     OF   THE     PAST. 

tribute  of  AMMIBAAL  son  of  ZAMANI,  of  ANHITI  of  the 
land  of  Rurie 

13  of  LABDURI  son  of  DUBUZI  of  the  land  of  Nirdun  and 
the  tribute  of  the  land  of  Urumi-sa  Bitani,  of  the  Princes 
of  the  land  of  Nam, 

14  chariots,  horses,  horses  for  the  yoke,  tin,  silver,  gold, 
kam  of  copper,  oxen,  sheep,  goats. 

1 5  Over  the  land  of  Nairi  I  established  a  Viceroy  :  (but) 
on  my  return  the  land  of  Nairi,  and  Nirbu  which  is  in 

1 6  the   land   of  Kasyari,   revolted;    nine    of   their   cities 
leagued  themselves  with   Ispilipri  .one  of  their  fortified 
towns  and  to  a  mountain  difficult  of  access 

1 7  they  trusted ;  but  the  heights  of  the  hill  I  besieged  and 
took;  in  the  midst  of  the  strong  mountain  their  fighting 
men  I  slew ;  their  corpses  like  rubbish  on  the  hills 

1 8  I   piled   up;    their   common   people    in    the   tangled 
hollows  of  the  mountains  I  consumed;  their  spoil,  their 
property  I  carried  off;  the  heads  of  their  soldiers 

19  I  cut  off;  a  pile  (of  them)  in  the  highest  part  of  the 
city  I  built;  their  boys  and  maidens   I   dishonoured;  to 
the  environs  of  the  city  Buliyani 

20  I  passed;  the  banks  of  the  river  Lukia1  I  took  posses- 
sion of;  in  my  passage  I  occupied  the  towns  of  the  land 
of  Kirhi  hard  by ;  many  of  their  warriors 

21  I   slew ;  their  spoil   I  spoiled ;  their  cities  with  fire  I 
burned  :    to  the  city  of  Ardupati  I  went.     In  those  days 
the  tribute 

22  of  AHIRAMU  son  of  YAHIRU  of  the  land  of  NILAAI  son 
of  BAHIANI  of  the  land  of  the  Hittites2  and  of  the  Princes 
of  the  land  of  Hanirabi,  silver,  gold, 

23  tin,  kam  of  copper,  oxen,  sheep,  horses,  as  their  tribute 

1  Probably  the  Lycus  or  upper  Zab. 

2  The  term  Hittites  is  used  in  a  large  sense,  as  the  equivalent  of  Syrians 
including  the  northern  parts  of  Palestine. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  53 

I  received ;  in  the  eponym  of  ASSURIDIN  '  they  brought 
me  intelligence  that 

24  ZAB-YAV  Prince  of  the  land  of  Dagara  had  revolted. 
The  land  of  Zamua  throughout  its  whole  extent  he  boldly 
seized ;  near  the  city  of  Babite 

25  they  constructed  a  fort ;   for  combat  and  battle  they 
marched  forth  :  in  the  service  of  ASSUR,  the  great  god  my 
Lord  and  the  great  MERODACH 

26  going  before  me,2  by  the  powerful  aid  which  the  Lord 
ASSUR   extended  to   my  people,   my   servants   and   my 
soldiers  I  called  together;  to  the  vicinity 

27  of  Babite  I  marched  :  the  soldiers  to  the  valour  of  their 
army  trusted  and  gave  battle  :  but  in  the  mighty  force  of 
the  great  MERODACH  going  before  me 

28  I   engaged  in  battle  with  them ;  I  effected  their  over- 
throw ;  I  broke  them  down  ;  1460  of  their  warriors  in  the 
environs 

29  I  slew  ;  Uzie,  Birata,  and  Lagalaga,  their  strong  towns, 
with  100  towns  within  their  territory  I  captured  ; 

30  their   spoil,   their    youths,    their    oxen,   and    sheep   I 
carried  off;   ZAB-YAV  for  the  preservation  of  his  life,  a 
rugged  mountain 

31  ascended;  1200   of  their  soldiers  I  carried  off;  from 
the  land  of  Dagara  xl  withdrew ;   to  the  city  of  Bara  I 
approached ;  the  city  of  Bara 

32  I   captured;  320  of  their  soldiers  by  my  weapons  I 
destroyed ;  their  oxen,  sheep,  and  spoil  in  abundance  I 
removed ; 

33  300    of  their   soldiers   I   took    off;    on   Tasritu3  i5th 
from    the    town   Kalzi   I   withdrew,   and   came    to   the 
environs  of  Babite ; 

1  About  88 1  B.C. 

2  A  Scriptural  phrase  of  frequent  occurrence. 

3  Corresponding  to  the  Jewish   month  Tisri,  and  to  part  of  our  Sep- 
tember, called  in  Accadian  "The  Holy  Altar." 


54  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

34  from  Babite   I  withdrew ;  to  the  land  of  Nizir  which 
they  call  Liilu-Kinaba  I  drew  near ;   the  city  Bunasi  one 
of  their  fortified  cities 

35  belonging  to  Musazina  and  20  cities  of  their  environs  I 
captured ;    the    soldiers   were    discouraged ;    they   took 
possession  of  a  mountain  difficult  of  access  ;  I,  ASSUR- 
NASIR-PAL  impetuously  after  them 

36  like  birds  swooped  down ;  their  corpses  lay  thick  on 
the  hills  of  Nizir;  326   of  their  warriors  I  smote  down; 
his  horses  I  exacted  of  him, 

37  their  common  people  in  the  tangled  hollows   I  con- 
sumed ;   seven  cities  in  Nizir,  which  were  of  their  duly 
appointed  fortresses  I  captured  ;  their  soldiers 

38  I  slew ;  their  spoil,  their  riches,  their  oxen,  their  sheep 
I  carried  off ;   the  cities  themselves  I  burned  ;    to  these 
my  tents  I  returned  to  halt ; 

39  from  those  same  tents  I  departed  ;  to  cities  of  the  land 
of  Nizir  whose  place  no  one  had  ever  seen  I  marched ; 
the  city  of  Larbusa 

40  the  fortified  city  of  Kirtiara  and  8  cities  of  their  terri- 
tory I   captured ;  the   soldiers  lost  heart  and  took  to  a 
steep   mountain,    a    mountain    (which)   like    sharp   iron 
stakes 

41  rose  high  upwards ;    as  for  his  soldiers,   I  ascended 
after  them ;   in  the  midst  of  the  mountain   I   scattered 
their  corpses  ;    1 7  2  of  their  men  I  slew  ;  soldiers 

42  in  numbers  in  the  hollows  of  the  mountain  I  hunted 
down ;  their  spoil,  their  cattle,  their  sheep,  I  took  away ; 
their  cities  with  fire 

43  I    burned;    their   heads    on   the    high   places    of  the 
mountain  I  lifted  up;1    their  boys  and   maidens    I    dis- 
honoured ;   to  the  tents  aforesaid  I  returned  to  halt ; 

1   Cf.  Gen.  xl.  19,  "  Yet  within  three  days  shall  Pharaoh  lift  up  thy  head 
from  off  thee." 


ANNALS    OF    ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  55 

44  from  those  same  tents  I  withdrew;    150  cities  of  the 
territory  of  Larbusai,   Durlulumai,   Bunisai  and  Barai  I 
captured ; 

45  their  fighting  men  I  slew ;   their  spoil  I  spoiled ;   the 
city  of  Hasabtal  I  razed   (and)   burned  with   fire ;    50 
soldiers  of  Barai  I  slew  in  battle  on  the  plain. 

46  In  those  days  the  Princes  of  the  entire  land  of  Zamua 
were  overwhelmed  by  the  dread  of  the  advance  of  ASSUR 
my  Lord  and  submitted  to  my  yoke  ;  horses,  silver,  gold, 

47  I  received  ;   the  entire  land  under  a  Prefect  I  placed  ; 
horses,  silver,  gold,  wheat,  barley,  submission,  I  imposed 
upon  them 

48  from  the   city  of  Tuklat-assur-azbat  I  withdrew ;   the 
land  of  Nispi  accepted  my  yoke  ;    I  went  down  all  night ; 
to  cities  of  remote  site  in  the  midst  of  Nispi 

49  which  ZAB-YAV  had  established   as   his    stronghold   I 
went,  took  the  city  of  Birutu  and  consigned  it  to  the 
flames. 

IT  In  the  eponym  of  DAMIKTIYA-TUKLAT,  when  I  was 
stationed  at  Nineveh,  they  brought  me  news  x 

50  that   Amaka,    and   Arastua  withheld   the   tribute   and 
vassalage  due  to  ASSUR  my  Lord.     In  honour  of  ASSUR 
mighty  Lord  and  MERODACH  the  great  going  before  me, 

51  on  the  first  of  May2  I  prepared  for  the  third  time  an 
expedition  against  Zamua:  my  fighting  men3  before  the 
many  chariots  I  did  not  consider :  from  Kalzi  I  withdrew ; 
the  lower  Zab 

52  I  passed  ;   to  the  vicinity  of  Babite  I  proceeded ;  the 
river  Radanu  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains  of  Zima,  my 
birthplace,  I  approached ;  oxen, 

53  sheep,  goats,  as  the  tribute  of  Dagara  I  received  :   near 
Zimaki  I  added  my  strong  chariots  and  battering  rams 

1  About  880  B.C.  3  The  Hebrew  Sivan. 

3  I.e.,  in  comparison  with. 


56  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

as    chief  of  warlike  implements  to  my  magazines ;    by 
night 

54  and  daybreak    I  went  down;    the  Turnat  in  rafts   I 
crossed  ;  to  Amali  the  strong  city  of  Arastu  I  approached  ; 

55  with  vigorous  assault  the  city  I  besieged  and  took ;  800 
of  their  fighting  men  I  destroyed  by  my  weapons ;  I  filled 
the  streets  of  their  city  with  their  corpses ; 

56  their  many  houses  I  burned;    many  soldiers   I   took 
alive ;   their  spoil  in  abundance  I   carried  off ;    the  city 
I    overthrew    razed    and     burnt    with     fire;     the    city 
Khudun 

57  and  20  cities  in  its  environs  I  took;    their  soldiers  I 
slew ;   their  booty  in  cattle  and  sheep  I  carried  off ;   their 
cities  I  overthrew  razed  and  burned  ;  their  boys, 

58  their  maidens   I   dishonoured ;    the   city  of  Kisirtu  a 
fortified  city  of  Zabini  with  i  o  neighbouring  cities  I  took  ; 
their  soldiers  I  slew ;  their  spoil 

59  I  carried  off;  the  cities  of  Barai  and  Kirtiara,  Bunisai 
together  with  the  province  of  Khasmar  I  overthrew  razed 
and  burned  with  fire  ; 

60  I  reduced  the  boundaries  to  a  heap,  and  then  from  the 
cities  of  Arastua  I  withdrew  :  to  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
territory  of  Laara  and  Bidirgi,  rugged  land,  which  for  the 
passage 

6 1  of  chariots  and  an  army  was  not  adapted,  I  passed  ;   to 
the  royal  city  Zamri  of  AMIKA  of  Zamua  I   drew  near ; 
AMIKA  from  before  the  mighty  prowess  of  my  formidable 
attack 

6  2     fled  in  fear  and  took  refuge  on  a  hill  difficult  of  access  : 

I  brought  forth  the  treasures  of  his  palace  and  his  chariot ; 

from  Zamri  I  withdrew  and  passed  the  river  Lallu  and  to 

the  mountains  of  Etini, 
63     difficult  ground,  unfit  for  the  passage  of  chariots  and 

armies,  whither  none  of  the  Princes  my  sires  had  ever 


ANNALS   OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  57 

penetrated ;   I  marched  in   pursuit  of  his   army  on  the 
mountains  of  Etini : 

64  the  hill  I  ascended  :  his  treasure,  his  riches,  vessels  of 
copper,  abundance  of  copper,  kam  of  copper,  bowls  of 
copper,  pitchers  of  copper,  the  treasures  of  his  palace  and 
of  his  storehouses,   . 

65  from  within  the  mountains  I  took  away  to  my  camp  and 
made  a  halt :    by  the  aid  of  ASSUR  and  the  Sun-god,  the 
gods  in  whom  I  trust,  from  that  camp   I   withdrew  and 
proceeded  on  my  march ; 

66  the  river  Edir  I  passed  on  the  confines  of  Soua  and 
Elaniu,  powerful  lands ;  their  soldiers  I  slew  in  numbers ; 
their  treasure,  their  riches,  am  *  of  copper, 

67  kam  of  copper,  sapli  and  namziete  of  copper,  vessels 
of   copper   in   abundance,  pdsur  wood,   gold  and   a/izi, 
their  oxen,  sheep,  riches, 

68  his  abundant  spoil,  from  below  the  mountains  of  Elani, 
his  horses,  I  exacted  from  him :  AMIKA  for  the  saving  of 
his  life  to  the  land  of  Sabue  went  up ; 

69  the   cities   Zamru,   Arazitku,   Amaru,  Parsindu,    Eritu, 
Zuritu  his  fortified  city,  with  150  cities 

70  of  his  territory  I  overthrew,  razed,  burned;  the  boundary 
I  reduced  to  a  heap. 

IT  While  in  the  vicinity  of  Parsindi  I  was  stationed,  the 
warlike  engines  of  the  tribe  of  Kallabu 

71  came  forth  against  the  place;  150  of  the  fighting  men 
of  AMIKA  I  slew  in  the  plain ;  their  heads  I  cut  off  and 
put  them  up  on  the  heights  of  his  palace ; 

72  200  of  his  soldiers  taken  by  (my)  hands  alive  I  left  to 
rot  on  the  wall  of  his  palace  :2  from  Zamri  the  battering- 
rams  and my  banners  I  made  ready ; 

1  Am  may  be  the  name  of  some  weight,  or  figure;  v.  Norr.  Assyr.  Diet, 
p.  127  and  720. 

3  Menant  renders  "  j'ai  fait  etouffer  dans  le  mur." 


58  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

73  to  the  fortress  Ata,   of  Arzizai,  whither  none  of  the 
Kings  my  sires  had  ever  penetrated  I  marched  :  the  cities 
of  Arzizti,  and  Arzindu 

74  his  fortified  city,  with  ten  cities  situated  in  their  environs 
in  the  midst  of  Nispi  a  rugged  country,  I  captured ;   their 
soldiers  I  slew  the  cities  I  overthrew  razed  and  burned 
with  fire : 

75  to  those  my  tents  I  returned.     In  those  days  I  received 
copper,  tabUli  of  copper,  kanmate  of  copper,  and  sarietc 
as  the  tribute  of  the  land  of  Siparmina,  such  as  women 

76  collect:   from  the  city  of  Zamri  I  withdrew;    to  Lara, 
(the  rugged  hill-country,  unfitted  for  the  passage  of  chariots 
and  armies,  with  instruments  (axes)  of  iron  I  cut  through 
and 

7  7  with  rollers  of  metal  I  beat  down)  with  the  chariots  and 
troops  I  brought  over  to  the  city  of  Tiglath-assur-azbat  in 
the  land  of  Lulu — the  city  of  Arakdi  they  call  it — I  went 
down ; 

7  8  the  Kings  of  Zamue,  the  whole  of  them,  from  before  the 
impetuosity  of  my  servants  and  the  greatness  of  my 
power  drew  back  and  accepted  my  yoke  ;  tribute  of  silver, 
gold,  tin, 

79  copper,  kam  of  copper,  vestments  of  wool,  horses,  oxen, 
sheep,  goats,  in  addition  to  what  I  had  before  settled,  I 
imposed  upon  them  ;  a  Viceroy 

80  in  Kalach  I  created.     While   in  the  land  of  Zamue  I 
was  stationed  the  cities  Khudunai,  Khartisai,  Khutiskai 
Kirzanai 

8 1  were  overwhelmed  by  fear  of  the  advance  of  ASSUR  my 
Lord ;    impost,  tribute,  silver,  gold,  horses,  vestments  of 
wool,  oxen,  sheep,  goats,  they  brought  to  me ;   the  rebel 
soldiers 

82  fled  from  before  my  arms  ;  they  fled  to  the  mountains  ; 
I  marched  after  them;    within  confines  of  the  land  of 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  59 

Aziru  they  settled  and  got  ready  the  city  of  Mizu  as  their 
strong  place ; 

83  the  land  of  Aziru  I  overthrew  and  destroyed ;    from 
Zimaki  as  far  as  the  Turnat  I  scattered  their  corpses ;  500 
of  their  righting  men  I  destroyed ; 

84  their  spoil  in  abundance  I  carried  off. 

IT  In  those  days  in  the  land  of  Samua,  (in  which  is)  the 
city  of  Atlila  which  ZIBIR  King  of  Kardunias  had  taken, 
devastated, 

85  and  reduced  to  a  heap  of  ruins,  I  ASSUR-NASIR-PAL  King 
of  Assyria  took,  after  laying  siege  to  its  castle  a  second 
time  ;  the  palace  as  a  residence  for  My  Majesty  I  therein 
strengthened,  made  princely  and  enlarged  beyond  what  of 
old  was  planned ; 

86  the  wheat  and  barleys  of  the  land  of  Kalibi  I  accumu- 
lated therein ;  I  gave  it  the  name  of  Dur-Assur. 

1f  On  the  first  of  May  in  the  eponym  of  SANMAPAKID  x  I 
collected  my  chariots  and  soldiers 

87  the  Tigris  I   crossed;    to  the  land  of  Commagene   I 
passed  on ;    I  inaugurated  a  palace  in  the  city  of  Tiluli ; 
the  tribute  due  from  Commagene  I  received ;   from  Com- 
magene I  withdrew ; 

88  I  passed  on  to  the  land  of  the   Istarat2;  in  the  city  of 
Kibaki  I  halted ;    from  Kibaki  I  received  oxen,  sheep, 
goats,  and  copper ;  from  Kibaki  I  withdrew ; 

89  to  the  city  of  Mattyati  I  drew  nigh  ;    I  took  possession 
of  the  land  of  Yatu  with  the  town  Kapranisa;    2800  of 
their  fighting  men  I  smote  down  with  my  weapons ;   their 
spoil  in  abundance  I  carried  off; 

90  the  rebels  who   had  fled  from  before  my  arms  now 
accepted  my  yoke ;    of  their  cities  I  left  them  in  posses- 
sion ;  tribute  impost  and  an  officer 3  over  them  I  set ; 

1  About  879  B.C.  2  Goddesses.  3  Urasi. 


60  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

9 1  an  image  of  my  person  I  made ;   collected  laws  I  wrote 
upon  it  and  in  the  city  of  Mattiyati  I  placed  it ;    from 
Mattiyati  I  withdrew ;  at  the  city  of  Zazabuka 

92  I  halted ;  the  tribute  of  Calach  in  oxen,  sheep,  goats 
and  various  copper  articles  I  received ;  from  Zazabuka  I 
withdrew  ; 

93  at  the  city  of  Irzia  I  made  a  halt ;  that  city  I  burned ; 
but  received  there  the  tributes  due  from  Zura  in  oxen 
sheep,  goats  and  kam  copper  : 

94  from  Irzia  I  withdrew ;  in  the  land  of  Kasyari  I  halted ; 
Madara  (and)  Anzi  two  cities  of  the  territory  I  captured 
and  slew  their  soldiers  ; 

95  their  spoil  I  carried  off;  the  cities  I  burned  with  fire; 
six  lakes  I  crossed  over  in  Kasyari,  a  rugged  highland  for 
the  passage  of  chariots  and  an  army 

96  unsuited ;    (the   hills   with   instruments  of  iron  I  cut 
through  (and)  and  with  rollers  of  metal  I  beat  down ;)  the 
chariots  and  army  I  brought  over.     In  a  city  of  ASSUR  J 
on  the  sandy  side  which  is  in  Kasyari, 

97  oxen,  sheep,  goats  kam  and  gurpisi  of  copper  I   re- 
ceived ;    by  the  land  of  Kasyari  I  proceeded ;   a  second 
time  to  the  land  of  Nairi  I  went  down;    at  the  city  of 
Sigisa 

98  I  made  a  halt ;  from  Sigisa  I  withdrew  ;  to  Madara  the 
fortified  city  of  LABDURI    the    son   of   DUBISI    I    drew 
near,    a    city    extremely    strong   with   four   impregnable 
castles  ; 

99  the  city  I   besieged ;    they   quailed  before  my  mighty 
prowess ;    I  received,  for  the  preservation  of  their  lives, 
their  treasures,  their  riches,  their  sons,  by  tale  ;  I  imposed 
upon  them 

i  oo     tribute    and    duties ;    an    officer 2  I  appointed    over 

1  Or,  Assur-sidi-huli  may  be  taken  as  the  name  of  the  town. 
2   Urasi  (?). 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  6 1 

them ;  the  city  I  demolished,  razed,  and  reduced 
to  a  heap  of  ruins;  from  Madara  I  withdrew;  to 
Tuskha 

10 1  I  passed  over;  a  palace  in  Tuskha  I  dedicated;  the 
tribute  of  the  land  of  Nirdun,  horses,  yoke-horses,  fish, 
kam  of  copper,  gurpisi  of  copper,  oxen,  sheep, 

102  goats,  in  Tuskha  I  received ;   60  cities   and  strong 
castles   below   Kasyari,  belonging   to   LABDURI  son  of 
DUBUZI  I  overthrew  razed  and  converted  to  a  heap  of 
ruins. 

103  In  the  service  of  ASSUR  my  Lord  from  Tuskha  I  with- 
drew.    The  powerful  chariots  and  battering-rams  I  put 
up  in  my  stores  ;  on  rafts 

104  I  passed  the  Tigris  ;  all  night  I  descended  ;  to  Pitura 
a  strong  town  of  Dirrai  I  drew  near — a  very  strong  city — 

105  two   forts   facing   each   other,  whose  castle  like  the 
summit  of  a  mountain  stood  up  :  by  the  mighty  hands  of 
ASSUR  my  Lord  and  the  impetuosity  of  my  army  and  my 
formidable  attack 

1 06  I  gave  them  battle;  on  two  days  before  sunrise  like 
YAV  the  inundator  I  rushed  upon  them;  destruction  upon 
them  I  rained  with  the  might  * 

107  and  prowess  of  my  warriors ;  like  the  rush  of  birds 
coming  upon  them,  the  city  I  captured ;   800  of  their 
soldiers  by  my  arms  I  destroyed ;  their  heads 

1 08  I  cut  off;  many  soldiers  I   captured  in  hand  alive; 
their  populace  in  the  flames  I  burned ;    their  spoil  I 
carried  off  in  abundance ;   a  trophy  of  the  living  and  of 
heads 

109  about  his  great  gate  I  built2;    700  soldiers  I  there 

1  Compare  a  similar  expression,  Job  xx.  23,  "  God  shall  rain  (his  fury) 
upon  him  while  he  is  eating." 

*  Cf.  2  Kings  x.  8,  "  Lay  ye  them  (the  heads)  in  two  heaps  in  the  entering 
in  of  the  gate." 


62  RECORDS    OF    THE   PAST. 

impaled  on  stakes1;  the  city  I  overthrew,  razed,  and 
reduced  to  a  heap  of  ruins  all  round ;  their  boys, 

no  their  maidens,  I  dishonoured;  the  city  of  Kukunu  2 
facing  the  mountains  of  Matni  I  captured  ;  700  of  their 
fighting  men  I  smote  down  with  my  weapons ; 

in  their  spoil  in  abundance  I  carried  off;  50  cities  of 
Dira  I  occupied;  their  soldiers  I  slew;  I  plundered 
them ;  50  soldiers  I  took  alive ;  the  cities  I  overthrew 

112  razed  and  burned  ;   the  approach  of  my  Royalty  over- 
came them ;   from  Pitura  I  withdrew,  and  went  down  to 
Arbaki  in  Gilhi-Bitani ; 

113  they  quailed  before  the  approach  of  my  Majesty,  and 
deserted  their  towns  and  strong  places  :  for  the  saving  of 
their  lives  they  went  up  to  Matni  a  land  of  strength 

114  I  went  after  them  in  pursuit;    1000  of  their  warriors  I 
left  in  the  rugged  hills ;   their  corpses  on  a  hill  I  piled 
up  ;  with  their  bodies  the  tangled  hollows 

115  of  the  mountains  I  filled  ;  I  captured  200  soldiers  and 
cut  off  their  hands  ;    their  spoil  I  carried  away ;    their 
oxen,  their  sheep 

1 1 6  without  number,  I  took  away ;   lyaya,  Salaniba,  strong 
cities  of  Arbaki  I  occupied ;    the  soldiers  I  slew ;    their 
spoil  I  carried  off 

117  250  towns  surrounded  with  strong  walls  in  the  land  of 
Nairi   I   overthrew  demolished  and   reduced  to  heaps 
and  ruins ;   the  trees    of  their   land   I  cut  down ;   the 
wheat 

118  and  barley  in  Tuskha  I  kept.     AMMIBA'AL  the  son  of 
ZAMANI  had  been  betrayed  and  slain  by  his  nobles.3    To 
revenge  AMMIBA'AL 

1  Or,  crosses.  "  On  the  upper  Tigris. 

3  I  follow  Dr.  Oppert  in  the  rendering"  of  this  obscure  passage. 
Compare  with  Ammiba'al  the  name  of  the  father  of  Bathsheba,  which 
like  many  other  proper  names  is  indicative  of  the  close  relations  between 
Assyria,  Phoenicia,  Syria,  and  Judaea. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  63 

119  I  marched ;   from  before  the  vehemence  of  my  arms 
and  the  greatness  of  my  Royalty 

120  they  drew  back:  his  swift  chariots,  trappings  for  men 
and  horses  one  hundred  in  number, 

121  horses,  harness,  his  yokes,  tribute  of  silver  and  gold 
with  TOO  talents 

122  in  tin,  100  talents  in  copper,  300  talents  in  annui, 
100  kam  of  copper,   3000  kappi  of  copper,   bowls  of 
copper,  vessels  of  copper, 

123  1000  vestments  of  wool,  nui  wood,  eru  wood,  zalmalli 
wood,  horns,  choice  gold, 

124  the  treasures  of  his  palace,  2000  oxen,  5000  sheep,  his 
wife,  with  large  donations  from  her ;  the  daughters 

125  of  his  chiefs  with  large  donations  from  them  I  received. 
I,  ASSUR-NASIR-PAL,  great  King,  mighty  King,  King  of 
legions,  King  of  Assyria, 

126  son  of  TUKLAT-ADAR  great  and  mighty  King,  King 
of  legions,  King  of  Assyria,  noble  warrior,  in  the  strength 
of  ASSUR  his  Lord  walked,  and  whose  equal  among  the 
Kings 

127  of  the   four  regions  exists  not1;    a  King   who  from 
beyond  the  Tigris  up  to  Lebanon  and  the  Great  Sea 

128  hath  subjugated  the  land  of  Laki  in  its  entirety,  the 
land  of  Zuhi  with  the  city  Ripaki :   from  the  sources  of 
the  Ani 

129  (and)  the  Zupnat  to  the  land  bordering  on  Sabitan  has 
he  held  in  hand  :   the  territory  of  Kirrouri  with  Kilzani 
on  the  other  side  the  Lower  Zab 

1 30  to  Tul-Bari  which  is  beyond  the  country  of  the  Zab ; 
beyond  the  city  of  Tul-sa-Zabdani,  Hirimu,  Harute,  the 
land  of  Birate 

131  and  of  Kardunias  I  annexed  to  the  borders  of  my 

1  This  frequently  recurring  expression  refers  to  the  four  races 
of  Syria. 


64  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

realm  and  on  the  broad  territory  of  Nairi  I  laid  fresh 
tribute.    The  city  of  Calach  I  took  anew ;  the  old  mound 

132  I  threw  down ;  to  the  top  of  the  water  I  brought  it ; 
120  hand-breadths  in  depth  I  made  it  good;   a  temple 
to  NINIP  my  Lord  I  therein  founded ;  when 

133  an  image  of  NINIP  himself  which  had  not  been  made 
before,  in  the  reverence  of  my  heart  for  his  great  mighty 
godship,  of  mountain  stone  and  brilliant  gold  I  caused 
to  make  in  its  completeness ; 

1 34  for  my  great  divinity  in  the  city  of  Calach  I  accounted 
him  :  his  festivals  in  the  months  of  January  and  Septem- 
ber1 I  established :    Bit-kursi  which  was  unoccupied  I 
closed : 

135  an  altar  to  NINIP  my  Lord  I  therein  consecrated:   a 
temple  for  BELTIS,  SIN,  and  GULANU,  HEA-MANNAZ  and 
YAV  great  ruler  of  heaven  and  earth  I  founded. 


1  Tabita  (Heb.  Tebeth)  and  Tasritu  (Heb.  Tisri).     It  should  be  remarked 
that  after  the  captivity  the  names  of  the  months  were  exchanged  for  the 
Chaldaean,  and  the  old  Hebrew  names,  such  as  Alii  (Exod.  xiii.  4),  Zif 
(i  Kings  vi.  37),  Ethanim  (ib.  viii.  2),  Bui  (ib.  vi.  38)  and  the  titles,  first, 
second,  third  month,  etc.,  were  dropped. 

2  This  name  has  also  been  read  as  Nisroch-Salmon. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  65 


COLUMN  III. 

1  On  the  22nd  day  of  the  third  month,   May,1  in  the 
eponym  of  DAGAN-BEL-USSUR,*  I  withdrew  from  Calach ;  I 
passed  the  Tigris  at  its  nearer  bank 

2  and  received  a  large  tribute ;   at  Tabite  I  made  a  halt ; 
on  the  6th  day  of  the  fourth  month,  June,3  I  withdrew 
from  Tabite  and  skirted  the  banks  of  Kharmis ; 

3  at  the  town  of  Magarizi  I  made  a  halt ;  withdrew  from 
it  and  passed  along  by  the  banks  of  the  Chaboras  and 
halted  at  Sadikanni ; 

4  the  tribute  due  from  Sadikanni,  silver,  gold,  tin,  kam  of 
copper,  oxen,  sheep,  I  received  and  quitted  the  place. 

5  at  the  city  of  Katni  I  made  a  halt ;  the  tribute  of  Sunaya 
I  received,  and  from  Katni  withdrew ; 

6  at  Dar-Kumlimi4  I  halted ;  withdrew  from  it  and  halted 
at  Bit-Halupe  whose  tribute 

7  of  silver,  gold,  tin,  kam  of  copper,  vestments  of  wool 
and  -linen,    oxen   and   sheep   I  received,  and  withdrew 
from  it ; 

8  at  the  city  of  Zirki  I  made  a  halt ;   the  tribute  of  Zirki, 
silver,  gold,  tin,  oxen, 

9  sheep,    I   received;    withdrew  from  Zirki;    halted  at 
Zupri,  whose  tribute 

10  of  silver,  gold,  tin,  kami,  oxen,  sheep,  I  received;  with- 
drew from  Zupri  and  halted  at  Nagarabani, 

11  whose  tribute  in  silver,  gold,  tin,  kami,  oxen,  sheep,  I 
received  and  withdrew  from  it ; 

12  near  Khindani,  situated  on  the  nearer  banks  of  the 
Euphrates  I  halted ; 

1  Sivan.        ,a  878  B.C.          3  Heb.  Tammuz,  Assyr.  Duwazu. 

4  A  city  in  Mesopotamia. 
VOL.  III.  6 


66  RECORDS    OF   THE   PAST. 

13  the  tribute  of  Khindani  silver,  golds,  tin,  kami,  oxen, 
sheep,  I  received.     From  Khindani 

14  I  withdrew ;  at  the  mountains  over  against  the  Euphrates ' 
I  halted  ;  I  withdrew  from  those  mountains  and  halted  at 
Bit-Sabaya  near  the  town  of  Haridi 

15  situate  on  the  nearer  banks  of  the  Euphrates.     From 
Bit-Sabaya   I    withdrew;    at  the  commencement  of  the 
town  of  Anat 2 

1 6  I  made  a  halt.     Anat  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  the 
Euphrates.     From  Anat  I  withdrew.     The  city  of  Zuru 
the  fortified  city  of 

1 7  SADUDU    of   the    land    of   Zuhi   I   besieged :    to  the 
numerous  warriors  of  the  spacious  land  of  the  Kassi  he 
trusted   and   to   make  war  and   battle   to   my  presence 
advanced  ; 

1 8  the  city  I  besieged ;  two  days  I  was  engaged  in  fighting; 
I   made  good  an  entrance  :    (then)  through  fear3  of  my 
mighty  arms  SADUDU  and  his  soldiers 

1 9  for  the  preservation  of  his  life,  into  the  Euphrates  threw 
himself:   I  took  the  city;   50  bit-hallu*  and  their  soldiers 
in  the  service  of  NABU-BAL-IDIN  King  of  Kardunias ; 

20  ZABDANU   his   brother  with   300    of  his   soldiers   and 
BEL-BAL-IDIN  who  marched  at  the  head  of  their  armies  I 
captured,  together  with  them 

2 1  many  soldiers  I  smote  down  with  my  weapons  ;  silver, 
gold,  tin,  precious  stone  of  the  mountains,5  the  treasure  of 
his  palace, 

22  chariots,  horses  trained  to  the  yoke,  trappings  for  men 
and  horses,  the  women  of  his  palace,  his  spoil, 

1  Burattu.     In  Hebrew  (Gen.  ii.  14.)  Phrat. 

2  Dr.  Oppert  renders  this  Anatho. 

3  Lit.,  from  the  face  of. 

4  Probably  military  engines  used  in  sieges. 

5  Or,  sadi-stone  shining. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  67 

23  in  abundance  I  carried  off;   the  city  I  pulled  down 
and  razed ;   ordinances  and  edicts  I  imposed  on  Zuhi ; 
the  fear  of  my  dominion  to  Kardunias  reached ; 

24  the  greatness  of  my  arms  overwhelmed  Chaldaea  ;x  on 
the  countries  of  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates  my  impetuous 
soldiers  I  sent  forth ;  an  image 

25  of  my  person  I  made;   decrees  and  edicts  upon  it  I 
inscribed;   in  Ziiri  I  put  it  up,   I  ASSUR-NASIR-PAL,  a 
King  who  has  enforced  his  laws 

26  (and)  decrees  and  who  to  the  sword  hath  directed  his 
face,  to  conquests  and  alliances  hath  raised  his  heart. 
While  I  was  stationed  at  Calach 

27  they  brought  me  news  that  the  population  of  Laqai 
and  Khindanu  of  the  whole  land  of  Zukhi  had  revolted  and 
crossed  the  Euphrates 

28  on  the  eighteenth  of  May2  I    withdrew   from  Calach, 
passed  the  Tigris,  took  the  desert  to  Ziiri 

29  by  Bit-Halupi  I  approached  in  ships  belonging  to  me 
which  I  had  taken  at  Zuri :  I  took  my  way  to  the  sources 
of  the  Euphrates ; 

30  the  narrows  of  the  Euphrates  I  descended,  the  cities  of 
Khintiel  and  Aziel  in  the  land  of  Laqai  I  took ;    their 
soldiers  I  slew  :  their  spoil 

31  I  carried  off;  the  cities  I  overthrew,  razed,  burned  with 
fire.     In  my  expedition  marching  westward  of  the  banks 
of  the  Chaboras  to 

32  the  city  Zibate  of  Zuhi,  cities  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Euphrates  in   the  land    of    Laqai   I   overthrew,    devas- 
tated and  burned  with  fire;    their  crops  I  seized   460 
soldiers 

33  their  fighting  men  by  (my)  weapons  I  destroyed ;  I  took 

1  Kaldu.     There  are  fragments  existing  in  the  British  Museum  of  a 
treaty  made  between  this  Nabu-bal-idin  king  of  Kardunias  (Babylonia)  and 
Shalmaneser  son  of  Assur-nasir-pal.    v.  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Archaeol.,  I,  77. 

2  The  Hebrew  Sivan. 


68  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

20  alive  and  impaled  them  on  stakes  ;'  on  ships  which  I 
had  built — 

34  in  20  ships  which  were  drawn  up  on  the  sand  at  Haridi 
I  crossed  the  Euphrates.     The  land  of  Zuhaya  and  Laqai 

35  and  the  city  of  Khindanai2  to  the  power  of  their  chariots 
armies  and  hands  trusted  and  summoned  6000  of  their 
soldiers  to  engage  in  fight  and  battle. 

36  They  came  to  close  quarters ;    I  fought  with  them ;    I 
effected  their  overthrow ;  I  destroyed  their  chariots  6500 
of  their   warriors   I   smote  down  by  my  weapons;    the 
remainder 

37  in  starvation  in  the  desert  ot  the  Euphrates  I  shut  up. 
From    Haridi    in    Zukhi   to    Kipina   and   the   cities   of 
Khindanai ' 

38  in  Laqai  on  the  other  side  I  occupied;   their  fighting 
men  I  slew ;    the  city  I  overthrew  razed  and  burned. 
AZIEL  of  Laqai 

39  trusted  to  his  forces  and  took  possession  of  the  heights 
of  Kipina ;  I  gave  them  battle  ;  at  the  city  of  Kipina  I 
effected  his  overthrow  ;    1000  of  his  warriors  I  slew  ; 

40  his  chariots  I  destroyed ;  spoil  I  carried  off  in  plenty  ; 
their  gods  I  took  away  ;  for  the  preservation  of  his  life  he 
took  refuge  on  a  rugged  hill  of  Bizuru  at  the  sources  of 
the  Euphrates  ; 

41  for  two  days   I   descended  the  river  in  pursuit :   the 
relics  of  his  army  with  my  weapons  I  destroyed ;  their 
hiding  place  by  the  hills  on  the  Euphrates  I  broke  up ; 

42  to  the  cities  of  Dumite  and  Azmii  belonging  to  the  son 
of  ADINIS  I  went  down  after  him  ;  his  spoil,  his  oxen,  his 
sheep, 

1  Lit.,  "  Impaled  on  stakes."     But  Dr.  Oppert  and  Mr.  Norris  generally 
adopt  the  rendering-  given  in  the  text,  1.  108,  p.  76. 

*      I*-    .,,.11      K^    ^Vv^.^^,»^^1     4-Ui4-     *-Uir-     ^'*4--.r    d~    ^1Cn^^^^^4-1, 


*  It  will  be  observed  that  this  city  is  differently  spelt  in  1.  27.     Irregu- 
rities  of  this  kind   are  very  frequent,  especially  in  the  tei 


larities  of  this  kind   are  very  frequent,  especially  in  the  termination  of 
proper  names. 
3  Ahuni.     See  line  61,  p.  71. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  69 

43  which  like  the  stars  of  heaven  were  without  number  I 
carried  off. 

IT  In  those  days  I  LA  of  Laqai,  his  swift  chariots  and 
500  soldiers 

44  to  my  land  of  Assyria  I  transported;   Dumutu1  and 
Azmu  I  captured,  overthrew,  razed  and  burned;  in  the 
narrows  of  the  Euphrates  I  turned  aside  in  my  course 
and 

45  I  outflanked  AZIEL,  who  fled  before  my  mighty  power 
to  save  his  life.     ILA,  the  Prince  of  Laqai,  his  army  his 
chariots,  his  harness, 

46  I  carried  off  and  took  to  my  city  of  Assur  :  KHIMTIEL 
of  Laqai  I  made  prisoner  in  his  own  city.     Through  the 
might  of  ASSUR  my  Lord,  (and)  in  the  presence  of  my 
migfoty  arms  and  the  formidable  attack 

47  of  my  powerful  forces  he  was  afraid,  and  I  received  the 
treasures  of  his  palaces,  silver,  gold,  tin,  copper,  kam  of 
copper,   vestments   of  wool,   his   abundant    spoil;    and 
tribute 

48  and  impost  in  addition  to  what  I  had  previously  fixed 
1  laid  upon  them ;  in  those  days  I  slew  50  buffaloes  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  nearer  side  of  the  Euphrates  : 
eight  buffaloes  I  caught  alive  ; 

49  I  killed  20  eagles,  and  captured  others  alive  :  I  founded 
two  cities  on.  the  Euphrates  ;   one  on  the  further  bank 

50  of  the  Euphrates  which  I  named  Dur-Assur-nasir-pal ; 
one  on  the  nearer  bank  which  I  named  Nibarti-Assur. 
On  the  2oth  of  May2  I  withdrew  from  Calach ; 

51  I  crossed  the  Tigris  ;   to  the  land  of  Bit-Adini  I  went ; 
to  their  strong  city  of  Katrabi  I  approached,  a  city  ex- 
ceedingly strong,  like  a  storm  rushing  from  heaven,3 

1  See  note  on  p.  68, 1.  42.  a  The  Hebrew  Sivan. 

3  Or,  "  as  it  were  situated  among-  the  storm  clouds  of  heaven." 


70  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

52  the  soldiers  confided  to  their  numerous  troops,  and 
would  not  submit  and  accept  my  yoke :  in  honour  of  ASSUR 
the  great  Lord,  my  Lord,  and  the  god  the  great  protector 
going  before  me,  I  besieged  the  city 

53  by  the  warlike  engines1  on  foot  and  strong,  the  city  I 
captured  j  many  of  their  soldiers   I   slew ;    800  of  their 
fighting  men  I   dispersed ;    their  spoil   and   property  I 
carried  off,  2400  of  their  warriors 

54  I  transported  away  and  detained  them  at  Calach  ;   the 
city    I    overthrew   razed   and    burnt ;     the   fear   of    the 
approach  of  ASSUR   my   Lord   over   Bit-Adini   I   made 
good. 

55  In  those  days  the  tribute  of  AHUNI  son  of  ADINI  of 
Habini,  of  the  city  of  Tul-Abnai,2  silver,  gold,  tin,3  copper, 
vestments  of  wool  and  linen,  wood  for  bridges, 

56  cedar  wood,  the  treasures  of  his  palace  I  received  ; 
their  hostages  I  took,  rimutu 4  I  imposed  upon  them. 

IT  In  the  month  April5  and  on  the  eighth  day  I  quitted 
Calach ;   the  Tigris 

57  I  passed  ;   to  Carchemish6  in  Syria  I  directed  my  steps  ; 
to  Bit-Bakhiani  I  approached ;  the  tribute  due  from  the 
son7  of  BAKHIANI,  swift  chariots,  horses,  silver, 

58  gold,  tin,  copper,  kami  of  copper,    I   received ;   the 
chariots  and  warlike  engines  of  the  officer  of  the  son  of 
BAKHIANI  I  added  to  my  magazines  ; 

59  I  menaced  the  land  of  Anili :    the  tribute  of  HU-IMMI 
of  Nilaya,   swift   war   chariots,   horses,  silver,  gold,  tin,3 
copper, 

1  The  nature  of  these  engines  (lilsi}  is  uncertain. 

2  I.e.,  stony-hill.  3  Or,  lead. 

4  Possibly  humiliation,  from  the  Chaldee  rama.  5  Airu. 

6  Carchemish.     Cf.  Jeremiah  xlvi.  2.  7  (?)  tribe. 


ANNALS    OF    ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  71 

60  kami  of  copper,  oxen,  sheep,  horses,  I  received ;   the 
chariots  and  warlike  instruments  of  the  officer  I  added  to 
my  magazines.     From  Anili  I  withdrew ;   to  Bit-Adini  I 
approached ; 

6 1  the  tribute  of  AHUNI  son  of  ADINI,  silver,  gold,  tin,1 
copper,   wood    of   ereru,   and    rabaz,    horns,    JYW-wood, 
horns ' 

62  of  thrones    horns    of   silver,   and    gold,   sari,   brace- 
lets  of  gold,  sahri  fastenings  for  covers  of  gold,  scab- 
bards   of   gold,   oxen,    sheep,  goats    as    his    tribute    I 
received ; 

63  the  chariots  and  warlike  engines  of  the  officer  of  AHUNI 
I  added  to  my  magazines.     In  those  days  I  received  the 
tribute  of  HABINI  of  Tul-Abnai,  four  maneh  of  silver  and 
400  sheep; 

64  ten  maneh  of  silver  for  his  first  year  as  tribute  I  imposed 
upon  him  :  from  Bit-Adini  I  withdrew  j  the   Euphrates, 
in  a  difficult  part  of  it,  I  crossed  in  ships  of  hardened 
skins  : 

65  I   approached   the    land    of   Carchemish  :  the  tribute 
of  SANGARA    King    of    Syria,    twenty   talents   of  silver, 
sahri,  gold,   bracelets   of  gold,  scabbards  of  gold,    100 
talents 

66  of  copper,    250  talents    of   annui   kami,    hariate,    nir- 
makate  kibil3  of  copper,  the  extensive  furniture  of  his 
palace, 

67  of    incomprehensible    perfection4    different    kinds    of 

1  Or,  lead. 

2  Some  projecting-  ornament,  like  "horns  of  an  altar."  Cf.  Ps.  cxviii.  27* 
Exod.  xxx.  2. 

3  Probably  some  utensils,  as  explained  by  the    Hebrew  word  unutu 
(anioth). 

4  Or,  with  Mr.  Norris,  "  the  whole  of  it  was  not  taken."  Diet.  p.  558. 


72  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

woods,1  ka  and  sara,   200  female    slaves,   vestments   of 
wool, 

68  and  linen  ;   beautiful  black  coverings,  beautiful  purple 
coverings,   precious    stones,    horns    of  buffaloes,  white 2 
chariots,  images  of  gold,  their  coverings,  the  treasures  of 
his  Royalty,  I  received  of  him  ; 

69  the   chariots   and  warlike   engines   of  the  General  of 
Carchemish   I  laid  up  in  my  magazines ;  the  Kings  of 
all  those  lands  who  had  come  out  against  me  received 
my  yoke  ;   their  hostages  I  received  ; 

70  they  did   homage    in   my  presence ;    to   the   land  of 
Lebanon3  I  proceeded.      From   Carchemish   I  withdrew 
and   marched  to   the  territory  of  Munzigani   and  Har- 
murga  : 

7 1  the  land  of  Ahanu  I  reduced  ;  to  Gaza 4  the  town  of 
LuBARNA5  of  the  Khatti  I  advanced ;   gold   and  vest- 
ments of  linen  I  received  : 

72  crossing  the  river  Abrie  I  halted  and  then  leaving  that 
river  approached  the  town  of  Kanulua  a  royal  city  belong- 
ing to  LUBARNA  of  the  Khatti : 

73  from     before    my   mighty   arms    and    my    formidable 
onset  he  fled  in  fear,  and  for  the  saving  of  his  life  sub- 
mitted to  my  yoke  ;  twenty  talents  of  silver,  one  talent  of 
gold, 

74  100  talents  in   tin,    100  talents  in  annui  1000  oxen, 
10,000  sheep,  1000  vestments  of  wool,  linen,  nimati  and 
ki  woods  coverings, 

75  ahuzate    thrones,    kui    wood,    wood    for    seats,    their 
coverings,  sarai,  Z2ieri-wood,  horns  of  kui  in  abundance, 
the  numerous  utensils  of  his  palace,  whose  beauty 


1  The  words  specified  are  sa  or  issa,  passur,  and  probably  ebony,  the 
others  have  not  been  identified. 

2  Probably  "  in  ivory."         3  Labnana.          4  Hazazi.  5  Prince. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  73 

76  could  not  be  comprehended:1 pagatu  (?)2 

from  the  wealth  of  great  Lords  as  his  tribute 

77  I  imposed  upon  him  ;   the  chariots  and  warlike  engines 
of  the  land  of  the  Khatti  I  laid  up  in  my  magazines  ;  their 
hostages  I  took. 

H  In  those  days  (I  received)  the  tribute  of  Guzi 

78  of  the  land  of  Yahanai,  silver,  gold,  tin,3 oxen, 

sheep,  vestments  of  wool  and  linen  I  received  :    from 
Kunalua  the  capital  of  LUBARNA  I  withdrew, 

79  of  the  land  of  the  Khatti,  crossed  the  Orontes,4  and 
after  a  halt  left  it,  and  to  the  borders 

80  of  the  land  of  Yaraki  and  of  Yahturi  I  went  round  : 

the  land 5 had  rebelled  :  from  the  Sangura  after 

a  halt  I  withdrew  ; 

8 1  I  made  a  detour  to  the  lands  of  Saratini  and  Girpani 6 

I  halted  and  advanced  to  Aribue  a  fortified  city 

belonging  to  LUBARNA  of  the  land  of  the  Khatti : 

82  the  city  I  tpok  to  myself;   the  wheats  and  barleys  of 
Luhuti  I  collected ;   I  allowed  his  palace  to  be  sacked 
and  settled  Assyrians  there.7 

83  While  I  was  stationed  at  Aribua,  I  captured  the  cities  of 
the  land  of  Luhiti  and  slew  many  of  their  soldiers  ;   over- 
threw razed  and  burned  them  with  fire  ; 

84  the  soldiers  whom  I  took  alive  I  impaled  on  stakes 
close  by  their  cities. 

IF  In  those  days  I  occupied  the  environs  of  Lebanon ; 
to  the  great  sea 

85  of  Phoenicia8 1  went  up  :  up  to  the  great  sea  my  arms  I 

1  The  Inscription  is  here  defaced.] 
a  May  this  be  the  Hebrew  word  for  garments,  beged  ? 
3  Defaced.  4  Arunte.  5  Defaced.  6  Defaced. 

7  Precisely  thus  "  The  king-  of  Assyria  brought  men  from  Babylon  .... 
and  placed  them  in  the  cities  of  Samaria  instead  of  the  children  of  Israel." 
2  Kings  xvii.  24. 

8  Akhari.    Heb.  in«. 


74  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

carried  :  to  the  gods  I  sacrificed ;   I  took  tribute  of  the 
Princes  of  the  environs  of  the  sea-coast, 

86  of  the  lands  of  Tyre,  Sidon,  Gebal,  Maacah1  Maizai 
Kaizai,  of  Phoenicia  and  Arvad 

87  on   the   sea-coast — silver,    gold,    tin,    copper,    kam   of 
copper,  vestments  of  wool  and  linen,  pagutu  2  great  and 
small, 

88  strong    timber,    wood    of  fa'3  teeth    of   dolphins,    the 
produce  of  the  sea,  I  received  as  their  tribute  :  my  yoke 
they  accepted ;   the  mountains  of  Amanus 4  I  ascended  ; 
wood  for  bridges, 

89  pines,   box,   cypress,   //-wood,   I  cut  down ;    I  offered 
sacrifices  for  my  gods;  a  trophy5  of  victory  I  made,  and 
in  a  central  place  I  erected  it ; 

90  gitsuri-wood,    cedar    wood    from    Amanus    I    destined 
for   Bit-Hira,    and    my   pleasure   house    called   Azmaku, 
for    the   temple   of    the    Moon   and    Sun    the   exalted 
gods. 

91  I  proceeded  to  the  land  of  Iz-mehri,  and   took   pos- 
session    of    it    throughout :     I    cut    down    beams    for 
bridges  of  mehri  trees,   and  carried  them  to   Nineveh  ; 
(and) 

92  to  ISTAR  Lady  of  Nineveh  (on)  my  knees  I  knelt.6     In 
the  eponym  of  SAMAS-NURI  7  in  the  honour  of  the  great 
Lord  ASSUR  my  Lord  on  the  2oth  of  April 8 

93  from    Calach    I    withdrew — crossed    the    Tigris — de- 
scended to  the  land  of  Kipani  and   there,   in  the  city 
of  Huzirina,  received  the   tribute   of  the  governors   of 
its  cities. 

1  Lit.,  Zurai)  Sidunai,  Gubalai,  Makullat. 

-  See  p.  73,  note  2.  3  Ebony. 

4  The  mountain  chain  which  divides  Syria  from  Cilicia. 

5  Or,  proof.  6  Lit.,  sat.  7  I.e.,  "the  Sun  is  my  light." 
8  Assyr.  Aim,  Heb.  hjar.     866.  B.C. 


ANNALS    OF    ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  75 

94  While  stationed  at  Huzirana  I  received  the  tribute  of 
ITTIEL  of  Nilaya,  GIRIDADI  of  Assaya,  in  silver 

95  gold,  oxen,  sheep.    In  those  days  I  received  the  tribute 
in    beams    for    bridges,    cedar    wood,    silver,    gold    of 
Qatuzili 

96  of  Commagene T — withdrew  from  Huzirina  and  took  my 
way   upwards   along  the   banks    of    the   Euphrates;   to 
Kubbu  ' 

97  I  crossed  over  into  the  midst  of  the  towns  of  Assa 
in  Kirkhi  over  against  Syria.     The  cities  of  Umalie  and 
Khiranu 

98  powerful    cities,  centrally   situated    in    Adani   I   cap- 
tured ;   numbers  of  their  soldiers  I  slew ;   spoil  beyond 
reckoning 

99  I  carried  off;   the  towns  I  overthrew  and  demolished  ; 
150  cities  of  their  territory  I  burned  with  fire  ;   then  from 
Khiranu 

i  oo  I  withdrew ;  I  passed  over  to  the  environs  of  the  land 
of  Amadani ;  I  went  down  among  the  cities  of  Dirrie, 
and  the  cities  within  the  lands  of 

1 01  Amadani  and  Arquanie  I  burned  with  fire  :  Mallanu 
which  is  in  the  middle  of  Arquanie  I  took  as  my  own 
possession  ;  I  withdrew  from  Mallanu 

102  to  the  cities  of  Zamba  on  the  sandy  outskirt,  which 
I  burned  with  fire  :    I  passed  the  river  Sua,  proceeding 
up  to  the  Tigris  whose  cities 

103  on  those  banks  and  on  these  banks  of  the  Tigris  in 
Arkanie  to  a  heap  I  reduced  :    its  waters   overflowed 
all  Kirkhi :   my  yoke  they  took  ; 

104  their   hostages    I    exacted;    a  Viceroy  of  my  own  I 
appointed  over  them  :   in  the  environs  of  the  land  of 
Amadani  I  arrived  :  at  Barza-Nistun 

1  Lit.,  Kumukhaya. 
*  Between  Carchemish  and  the  Orontes. 


76  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

105  To   Dandamusa  the   fortified   city   of  ILANI  son  of 
ZAMANI  I  drew  near  and  laid  siege  to  it :  my  warriors 
like  birds  of  prey  rushed  upon  them  ; 

1 06  600  of  their  warriors  I  put  to  the  sword  and  decapi- 
tated ;  400  I  took  alive  ; 

107  3000  captives  I  brought  forth;    I  took  possession  of 
the  city  for  myself :  the  living  soldiers,  and  heads  to  the 
city  of  Amidi I  the  royal  city,  I  sent ; 

1 08  heaps  of  the  heads  close  by  his  great  gate  I  piled ;  the 
living  soldiers  I  crucified  on  crosses 2  at  the  gates  of  the 
town ; 

109  inside  the  gates  I  made  carnage;   their  forests  I  cut 
down;3  from  Amidi  I  withdrew  towards  the  environs  of 
Kasyari ;   the  city  of  Allabzie 

no  to  whose  rocks  and  stones  no  one  among  the 
Kings  my  fathers  had  ever  made  approach,  I  pene- 
trated ;  to  the  town  of  Uda  the  fortress  of  LABDURI 
son  of  DUBUZI 

in  I  approached  and  besieged  the  city  with  bilsiif) 

strengthened  and  marching;  the  city  I  captured;4 

soldiers5 with  my  weapons  I  destroyed;  570 

soldiers 

112  I  captured  ;  3000  captives  I  took  forth;  soldiers  alive 
I  caught ;   some  I  impaled  on  stakes  ;6  of  others 

113  the  eyes  I  put  out  :    the  remainder  I  carried  off  to 
ASSUR   and  took   the    city   as   my   own   possession — I 

1  Diarbekr,    still    known    by   the  name    of   Kar-Amid.      Rawlinson's 
Herodotus,  1.  466.     The  name  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  early  Christian 
writers. 

2  See  p.  68,  note  i. 

3  Cf.  Is.  x.  34,  "  He  shall   cut   down  the  thickets    of   the    forest   with 
iron;"  also  Ezek.  xxxix.  10. 

4  The  Inscription  is  here  defaced. 

5  Defaced.  6  See  p.  68,  note  i. 


ANNALS    OF    ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  77 

who  am  ASSUR-NASIR-PAL  mighty  King,  King  of  Assyria 
son  of  TUKLAT-ADAR,  (TUKLAT-NINIP) 

114  great  King,  powerful  King,  King  of  legions,  King  of 
Assyria  son  of  VUL-NIRARI  x  great  King,  mighty  King, 
King  of  legions,  King  of  Assyria,  noble  warrior,  who 
in   the    service    of  ASSUR    his    Lord   proceeded,   and 
among  the  Kings  of  the  four  regions, 

115  has  no  equal,  a  Prince 2  (giving)  ordinances,  not  fearing 
opponents,  mighty  unrivalled  leader,  a  Prince  subduer  of 
the  disobedient,  who  all 

116  the  thrones  of  mankind  has  subdued  ;   powerful  King 
treading  over  the  heads  of  his  enemies,  trampling  on  the 
lands  of  enemies,  breaking  down  the  assemblages  of  the 
wicked ;  who  in  the  service  of  the  great  gods 

117  his  Lords  marched  along ;   whose  hand  hath  taken 
possession  of  all  their  lands,  laid  low  the  forests  of  all  of 
them,  and  received  their  tributes,  taking  hostages  (and) 
imposing  laws 

118  upon  all  those  lands;    when  ASSUR  the  Lord   pro- 
claimer  of  my  name,  aggrandizer  of  my  Royalty,  who 
added  his   unequivocal    service   to   the   forces   of  my 
government 

119  I  destroyed  the  armies  of  the  spacious  land  of  Lulumi. 
In  battle  by  weapons  I  smote  them  down.     With  the 
help  of  the  Sun-god 

1 20  and  YAV,  the  gods  in  whom  I  trust,  I  rushed  upon  the 
armies  of  Nairi,  Kirkhi  Subariya  and  Nirbi  like  YAV  the 
inundator ; 3 

1  The  grand-father  of  Assur-nasir-pal.     His  reign  probably  terminated 
at  889  B.C. 

'  Lit.  shepherd.    Thus,  Isa.  xliv.  28,  "  Cyrus  is  my  shepherd." 

3  Cf.   Ps.    xxix.    10,  "The  Lord  (Jhvh)    sitteth   upon  the  flood;    yea 
the  Lord  sitteth  King  for  ever." 


78  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

121  a  King  who  from  the  other  side  the  Tigris  to  the  land 
of  Lebanon  and  the   great  sea  has   subjugated  to  his 
yoke  the  entire  land  of  Lakie  and  the  land  of  Zukhi  as 
far  as  the  city  Rapik  ; 

122  to  whose  yoke  is  subjected  (all)  from  the  sources  of 
the  Zupnat  to  the  frontiers  of  Bitani ;  from  the  borders 
of  Kirruri  to  Kirzani; 

123  from  beyond  the  Lower    Zab    to   the   town   of  Tul- 
sa-Zabdani    and    the    town    of    Tul-Bari    beyond    the 
land   of  Zaban  as  far  as  the  towns  of  Tul-sa-Zabdani 
and 

124  Tul-sa-Abtani ;  Harimu,  Harutu  in  Birate  of  Kardunias L 
to  the  borders   of  my  land    I  added ;  (the  inhabitants) 
of  the  territory  of  Babite 

125  with  Khasmar  among  the  people  of  my  own  country 
I    accounted  :     in     the     countries     which     I     held    I 
established  a  deputy  :    they  performed   homage  :    sub- 
mission 

126  I  imposed  upon  them;    I,   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL,  great, 
noble,   worshipper   of  the  great  gods,  generous,  great, 
mighty  possessors  of  cities  and  the  forests  of  all  their 
domains,  King  of  Lords,  consumer  of 

127  the    wicked    taskaru    invincible,    who    combats    in- 
justice,   Lord  of  all  Kings,    King   of  Kings,    glorious, 
upholder  of  BAR  (NINIP)  the  warlike,  worshipper 

128  of  the  great  gods,  a  King  who,  in  the  service  of  ASSUR 
and  NINIP,   gods   in  whom  he  trusted,   hath  marched 
royally,  and  wavering  lands  and  Kings  his  enemies  in 
all  their  lands 

129  to   his  yoke  hath   subdued,   and   the   rebels   against 
ASSUR,  high  and  low,  hath  opposed  and  imposed  on 
them  impost  and  tribute — ASSUR-NASIR-PAL 

1  This  reads  like  an  annexation  of  z. -portion  of  Babylonian  territory. 


ANNALS    OF   ASSUR-NASIR-PAL.  79 

130  mighty  King,  glory  of  the  Moon-god,1  worshipper  of 
ANU,  related 2  to  YAV,  suppliant  of  the  gods,  an  unyield- 
ing servant,  destroyer  of  the  land  of  his  foes  ;   I,  a  King 
vehement  in  war, 

1 3 1  destroyer  of  forests  and  cities,  chief  over  opponents, 
Lord  of  four  regions,  router  of  his  enemies  in  strong 
lands  and  forests,  and  who  Kings  mighty  and  fearless 
from  the  rising 

132  to  the  setting  of  the  sun  to  my  yoke  subjugated. 

11  The  former  city  of  Calach  which  SHALMANESER  King 
of  Assyria  going  before  me,  had  built — 

133  that  city  was   decayed   and   reduced   to  a  heap   of 
ruins  :   that  city  I  built  anew ;   the  people  captured  by 
my  hand  of  the  countries  which  I  had  subdued,  Zukhi 
and  Lakie, 

134  throughout  their  entirety,  the  town  of  Sirku  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Euphrates,  all  Zamua,  Bit-Adini,  the 
Khatti,  and  the  subjects  of  Liburna  I  collected  within, 
I  made  them  occupy.3 

135  A  water-course  from  the  Upper  Zab  I  dug  and  called 
it  Pati-kanik :  timber  upon  its  shores  I  erected :  a  choice 
of  animals  to  ASSUR  my  Lord  and  (for)  the  Chiefs  of 
my  realm  I  sacrificed ; 

136  the  ancient  mound  I  threw  down  :  to  the  level  of  the 
water  I  brought  it:    120  courses  on  the  low  level  I 
caused  it  to  go :  its  wall  I  built ;  from  the  ground  to  the 
summit  I  built  (and)  completed. 

[Additional  clauses  are  found  on  the  monolith  inscription 
in  the  British  Museum.     They  are  not,  however,   of  any 

1  Or,  upholder,  proclaimer  of  SIN,  the  moon;  cf.  1.  127. 

2  Assyr.  Naiad.    Cf.  the  Heb.  ^  (?)  born  of. 

3  Precisely  thus  were  the  Israelites  carried  away  to  Babylon. 


8o  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

great  importance  and  amount  to  little  more  than  directions 
for  the  preservation  and  reparation  of  the  palace,  with  im- 
precations upon  those  who  should  at  any  time  injure  the 
buildings.  On  this  same  monolith  is  found  an  invocation  to 
the  great  gods  of  the  Assyrian  Pantheon  :  namely,  to  Assur, 
Anu,  Hea,  Sin  (the  Moon),  Merodach,  Yav  Jahve,  Jah  (?), 
Ninip,  Nebo,  Beltis,  Nergal,  Bel-Dagon,  Samas  (the  Sun), 
Istar.] 


MONOLITH 

INSCRIPTION     OF     SHALMANESER. 
FOUND  AT  KURKH. 

TRANSLATED 

BY      REV.    A.    H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 

TZURKH  is  the  modern  name  of  some  important 
ruins  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Tigris,  about  20  miles 
distant  from  Diarbekr,  which  probably  represent  the 
Karkathiokerta  of  the  classical  geographers.  The 
inscription  set  up  here  by  Shalmaneser,  though  un- 
fortunately much  mutilated  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
translation,  is  of  great  interest  on  account  both  of  its 
supplementing  the  annals  of  the  king  recorded  on  the 
Black  Obelisk  of  Nimrud  and  of  the  mention  in  it 
of  Ahab  of  Israel.1  A  copy  of  the  original  will  be 
found  in  W.  A.  I.  Vol.  III.  pi.  7,  8,  and  the  larger 
part  of  it  has  already  been  translated  by  M.  Menant 
in  his  "Annales  des  Rois  d'Assyrie"  (1874)  as  well  as 

1  The  monument  is  now  in  the  British  Museum. 
VOL.  III.  7 


82  RECORDS    OF   THE   PAST. 

previously  by  M.  Oppert.     The  present,  however,  is 
the  first  translation  of  the  whole  inscription. 

Shalmaneser  had  a  long  reign  of  35  years,  during 
which  he  came  into  contact  with  Ahab,  Jehu,  Hazael 
and  other  Biblical  personages.  In  accordance  with 
the  astronomical  system  used  in  Assyria,  a  sort  of 
jubilee  was  kept  in  his  3ist  year,  the  king  "inaugu- 
rating the  cycle  for  the  second  time  "  as  he  tells  us  in 
the  Black  Obelisk  inscription.  It  may  be  added  that 
the  dates  given  in  the  latter  inscription  do  not 
always  agree  with  those  in  the  one  before  us  ;  a  fact 
which  illustrates  the  necessity  of  critical  caution  even 
when  we  are  dealing  with  cotemporary  documents. 


INSCRIPTION  OF  SHALMANESER. 


COLUMN   I. 

1  ASSUR,  the  great  Lord,  King  of  all  the  assembly  of  the 
great  gods;    ANU  King  of  the  spirits   of  heaven   and 
earth,  Lord  of  the  world ;  BEL,  the  father  of  the  gods, 
the  determiner  of  destinies, 

2  the  assembler  of  solemn  assemblies ;  HEA,  the  Leader, 
King  of  the  abyss  of  chaos,1  the  Overseer  of  the  treasures 
of  heaven  (and)  earth,  the  Prince  of  heaven,  the  Lord ; 
the  SUN-GOD 

3  the  Judge  of  mankind,  the  supreme ;    (and) 

I  STAR,    Queen   of  war  and   battle,  who   (stirs   up)  the 
strength  of  contention; — the  great  gods,  the  promoters 
of  my  sovereignty, 

4  who  extend  lordship  over  multitudes  and  union,  the 
glory  of  my  fame,  empire,  and  all  Princes  mightily  have 
they  made  for  me, 

5  SHALMANESER,   King   of  the  multitudes  of  men,  the 
Prince,  the  Servant  of  ASSUR,  the  powerful  King,  King 
of  Assyria,  King  of  all  the  four  races,3  a  Sun  god 

6  ruling  multitudes  of  men  throughout  the  world,  the 
purified  of  the  gods,  the  servant  of  the  eyes  of  BEL,  the 
High-priest  of  ASSUR,  the  royal  guardian,  the  glorious, 
the  ruler 

7  of  roads  and   Lord  of  streets,  the  trampler  on  the 
heads   of  mountains   (and)  all  forests,  receiver  of  the 
tribute  and  riches 

1  The  Assyrian  word  is  ba.hu  (the  bohu  of  Gen.  i.  2).     Bahu  is  generally 
the  wife  of  Hea ;  here,  however,  the  term  is  used  as  an  epithet  of  "  the 
abyss  "  over  which  Hea  ruled. 

2  Of  Syria. 


84  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

8  of   all   these   lands,    opener   of  the    trackless   places 
which  (are)  above  and  below z  which  against  the  onset  of 
his  mighty  battle  the  countries  caused  to  be  extended, 

9  the  hope  of  the  world  (which)  in  the  exercise  of  his 
bravery  he  founded,  the  powerful  Minister  who  in  the 
service  of  ASSUR  and  SAMAS  the  gods  his  helpers  has 
often  marched 

10  and  among  the  Kings  of  the  four  races  his  rival  had 
not,  Monarch  of  the  world,  the  Sovereign  who  (through) 
trackless    paths   has    often   marched    (and)    opened   out 
mountains  and  seas, 

11  the  son  of  ASSUR-NATSIR-PAL,   the  offspring  of  BEL, 
the  servant  of  ASSUR,  whose  power  over  (him)  the  gods 
have  made  good  and  caused  all  the   countries  of  the 
world  to  submit  to  (be)  under  him,  the  glorious  scion  of 

TlGLATH-ADAR 

12  who  laid  his  yoke  on  hostile  lands  and  swept  (them) 
like  a  whirlwind.     At  that  time  ASSUR  the  great  Lord  in 
his  firm  resolution  brought  me  forth  before  his  eyes  and 
ears,  and 

13  (to)     the     sovereignty    of    Assyria     proclaimed     me. 
Powerful   force(s)    I    slaughtered.       The    disobedient    I 
coerced,  and * 

14     to  work  and  labour  have  urged  me.    At  that 

time,  at  the  beginning  of  my  reign,  in  my  first  campaign 

15  on  the  throne  of  my  sovereignty   in   Majesty  I  had 
seated  myself.     The  chariots  of  my  armies  I  assembled. 
Into  the  lowlands  of  the  country  of  'Sime'si  I  descended. 
To  the  city  of  Aridi,3  the  fortress 

1 6  of  Ninni,  I  approached.     The  city  I  besieged,  I  took. 

1  That  is,  northward  and  southward  of  Assyria. 

3  Here  follows  a  lacuna  which  it  is  hazardous  to  fill  up  by  conjecture. 
3  Aridu  was  a  city  of  Nahri,  "  (the  land)  of  rivers"  (the  Aram-Naharaim 
of  Scripture)  on  the  north-west  of  Assyria. 


INSCRIPTION   OF    SHALMANESER.  85 

Its  numerous  fighting-men  I  slew.  Its  spoil  I  carried 
away.  A  pyramid  of  heads  over  against *  that  city  I 
built  up. 

1 7  The  sons  and  the  daughters  of  their  nobles 2  for  holo- 
causts I  burned.     While  I  was  stopping  in  the  city  of 
Aridi  the  tribute  of  the  countries  of  Murgasa,   of  the 
Murma'sians, 

1 8  the  'Sime'sians,  the  'Simeyans,  the  'Sirisians,  (and)  the 
Ulmanians,   horses   trained   to   the   yoke,  oxen,    sheep, 
(and)  goats,  I  received.     From  the  city  of  Aridi 

19  I  departed.     Trackless  paths  (and)  difficult  mountains, 
which  like  the  point  of  an  iron  sword  stood  pointed  to 
the  sky,  on  wheels  of  iron  (and)  bronze  I  penetrated.3 
(My)  chariots. 

20  (and)  armies  I  transported  over  (them).    To  the  city  of 
Khupuscia4  I  approached.     The  city  of  Khupuscia  to- 
gether with  100  cities  which  depended  on  it  with  fire  I 
burned.     CACIA 

2 1  King  of  the  country  of  Na'iri  and  the  remains  of  his 
army  from  before  the  sight  of  my  weapons  fled-in-fear, 
and  occupied  the  fastnesses  of  the  mountains.      After 
them  the  mountains  I  ascended. 

22  A  hard  battle  in  the  midst  of  the  mountains  I  fought.5 
A  destruction   of  'them   I   made.6     Chariots,  numerous 
soldiers,  (and)  horses  trained  to  the  yoke  from  the  midst 
of  the  mountain  I  brought  back.     Exceeding  fear 

23  of  ASSUR  my  Lord  overwhelmed  them.     They  came 

1  Lit.,  "  in  the  coming'  to." 

2  Lit.,  "  the  nobles,  their  young  men  and  their  young-  women." 

3  Lit,  "  I  dug  up." 

4  On  the  north-east  of  Assyria  among  the  mountains  of  Armenia. 

5  Lit.,  «  I  made." 

6  Lit.,  "  I  overthrew." 


86  RECORDS   OF   THE   PAST. 

forth  and  took  my  feet.1     Taxes  and  tribute  upon  them 
I  fixed.     From  the  city  of  Khupuscia  I  departed. 

24  To  the  city  of  'Sugunia,  his  stronghold,  belonging  to 
ARAME  (King)  of  the  Armenians,  I  approached.     The 
city  I  besieged,  I  took.     Their  fighting  men  in  numbers 
I  slew. 

25  Its  spoil  I  carried  away.     A  pyramid  of  heads  over 
against    that   city    I    built   up.       Fourteen   cities   which 
depended  upon  it  with  fire  I  burned.     From  the  city  of 
'Sugunia 

26  I   departed.      To    the  sea   of   the  land   of  Na'iri2   I 
descended.     My  weapons  by  the  sea-side  I  stayed.     Sac- 
rifices to  my  gods  I  performed.    At  that  time  an  image  of 
my  person 

27  I  made.     The  decrees  of  ASSUR,  the  Lord  of  Princes, 
my  Lord,  and  my  collected  laws  upon  it  I  wrote.     By  the 
sea-side  I  erected  (it).     On  my  return 

28  from  the  sea,  the  tribute  of  A'su  (King)  of  the  country 
of  Gozan,    horses,   oxen,  sheep,  goats,   2  camels  which 
(have)  two  humps,  I  received. 

29  To  mycityAssur3  I  brought  (them).      In  the  month 
lyyar,4  the  i3th  day,  the  city  of  Nineveh  I  quitted;   the 
river  Tigris  I  crossed.     The  countries  of  Kha'samu  (and) 
Dikhnunu  I  passed  through. 

30  To  the  city  of  Lahlahte  which  belonged  to  AKHUNI 
the  son  of  ADINI  I  approached.    Exceeding  fear  of  ASSUR 


1  In  token  of  submission. 

7  That  is  Lake  Van.  Shalmaneser  elsewhere  speaks  of  his  rule  over 
the  upper  and  lower  seas  of  Nahri,  which  Sir  H.  Rawlinson  has  identified 
with  the  lakes  of  Van  and  Urumiyeh. 

3  The   primitive    capital   of    Assyria   from   which    the   whole    country 
derived  its  name,  now  represented 'by  Kalah-Shergat.     It  was  the  Ellasar 
of  Genesis. 

4  lyyar  answers  roughly  to  our  April.     Shalmaneser  is  here  speaking  of 
his  second  campaign  (856  B.C.). 


INSCRIPTION   OF   SHALMANESER.  87 

my  Lord  overwhelmed  him  (and  he  fled  to  his  fortified 
city.     The  high  ground) 

31  I  ascended.     The  city  I  threw  down,  dug  up  (and) 
burned  with  fire.     From  the  city  of  Lahlahti  I  departed. 
(To  the  city  of  Ci  .  .  .  ka) 

32  which  belonged  to  AKHUNI  the  son  of  ADINI  I  ap- 
proached.    AKHUNI,  the  son  of  ADINI,  to  the  power  (of 
his  army  trusted),  and  battle  (and)  war  (he  made)  with 
me.     In  the  service  of  ASSUR 

33  and  the  great  gods  my  Lords  with  him  I  fought.     A 
destruction  of  him  I  made.     In  his  city  I  shut  him  up. 
From  the  city  of  Ci  .  .  .  ka  I  departed. 

34  To  the  city  of  Burmarahna  belonging  to  AKHUNI,  the 
son  of  ADINI  (I  approached.     The  city)  I  besieged,  I 
took.     Three  hundred  of  their  fighting-men  with  arrows 
I  slew.     A  pyramid  of  heads 

35  (over  against   the  city  I  built  up.)     The  tribute  of 
KHAPINI  of  the  city  of  Tul-Abna  (of)  GAHUNI  of  the 
city  of  'Sa  ....    (and)  of  CIGIRI-RIMMON 

36  (of  the   city   of  ....  ), — silver,   gold,    oxen,   sheep, 
(and)  goats, — I  received.     From  the  city  of  Burmarahna 
I  departed.     In  great  vessels  of  skins  the  river  Euphrates 

37  I   crossed,  and   the   tribute  of  KATAZILU   (King)   of 
Comagene, — silver,  gold,  oxen,   sheep,    (and)   goats, — I 
received.     The  city  of  Paburrukhbuni 

38  (and)  the  cities  of  AKHUNI  the  son  of  ADINI  on  the 
hither  banks  of  the  Euphrates  I  approached.     A  destruc- 
tion of  the  country  I  made.     Devastation  (and)  death 

39  I  scattered.     With  the  destruction  of  his  warriors  the 
broad  desert  I  filled.     1,300  soldiers,  their  fighting  men, 
with  arrows  I  slew. 

40  From  the  city  of  Paburrukhbuni  I  departed.     To  the 
cities  of  MUTALLI  of  the  city  of  the  Gamgumians  I  ap- 
proached.    The  tribute 


RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

41  of  MUTALLI  of  the  city  of  the  Gamgumians,  silver, 
gold,  oxen,  sheep,  goats,  (and)  his  daughter  with  a  large 
gift,  I  received.     From  the  city  of  Gamgume 

42  I  departed.     To  the  city  of  Lutibu,  his  strong  city, 
belonging  to  KHANU  of  the  country  of  the  'Samahlians  I 
approached.     KHANU  of  the  country  of  the  'Samahlians, 
'SAPALULME 

43  of  the  country  of  the  Patinians,1  AKHUNI  the  son  of 
ADINI,  (and)  'SANGARA  of  the  country  of  the  Carchemi- 
shians2  to  the  help  of  one  another  trusted  and  marshalled 
themselves 

44  for  battle.     (When)  to  make  plunder  after  me  they  had 
come,  by  the  supreme  powers  of  NERGAL  who  marches 
before  me  and  with  mighty  weapons 

45  which  ASSUR  the  Lord  furnished,  with  them  I  fought. 
A  destruction  of  them  I  made.     Their  fighting-men 

46  with  arrows  I   slew.     Like  the  Air-god  over  them  a 
deluge  I  rained.     In  ditches  I  heaped  them.     With  the 
spoil 

47  of  their   warriors    the    broad   desert    I    filled.      Their 
corpses  like  chaff  through  the  country  I  scattered.     Mul- 
titudes of  (their)  chariots,  (and)  their  horses 

48  trained  to   the  yoke   I   seized.     A  pyramid  of  heads 
over  against  the  city  (of  KHANU)  I  built  up.     His  cities 
I  pulled  down,  dug  up,  (and)  burned  with  fire. 

49  At  that  time  I  hung  up  the  ordinances  of  the  great 

1  The  Patinai  have  been  compared  with  the   Biblical   Padan-Aram  or 
"  plain  of  Syria." 

2  Carchemish,  the  Circesium  of  classical  geography,  stood  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Khaboras  and  Euphrates  and  was  the  key  of  the  high-road  to 
the  West.     Its  possession,  therefore,  was  a  matter  of  great  military  import- 
ance.     After  the  destruction  of  Tyre  by  the  Assyrians  Carchemish  became 
the  centre  of  trade  in  the  East  and  the  "  maneh  of  Carchemish"  was  one 
of  the  chief  standards  of  commerce.     'Sangara  probably  gave  his  name  to 
the  Singara  of  the  classical  geographers  which  was  situated   upon   the 
Khaboras  and  after  which  the  neighbouring  range  of  hills  was  called. 


INSCRIPTION    OF   SHALMANESER.  89 

gods,  wherein1  to  ASSUR  and   SAMAS  their  victories   I 
ascribed.     For  future  days  an  image  of  my  Majesty 

50  of  a  great  size  I  made.     The  records  of  my  victories 
(and)  my  triumphant  deeds  upon  it  I  wrote.    At  the  head 
of  the  sources  of  the  river  'Samara 

5 1  which  (lies)  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains  of  Amanus  I 
erected  (it).     From  the  country  of  Amanus  I  departed. 
The  river  Arantu2  I  crossed.     To  the  city  of  Alizir 

52  his  stronghold,  belonging  to  'SAPALULME  (King)  of  the 
country   of  the   Patinians   I   approached.      'SAPALULME 
(King)  of  the  city  of  the  Patinians,  to  save 

53  his  life,   (made  alliance  with)  AKHUNI  son  of  ADINI, 
'SANGARA  of  the  city  of  the  Carchemishians,  KHAINU  of 

the  country   of  the   'Samahlians,    GATE of  the 

country  of  the  Kuans,  PIKHIRIM  of  the  country  of  the 
Khilucians,3  BURANATE  of  the  country  of  the  Yazbukians, 
(and)  ADU  .... 


COLUMN   II. 

The  first  few  lines,  describing  the  defeat  of  the  con- 
federacy and  the  spoil  which  Shalmaneser  carried  away,  are 
destroyed,  and  the  inscription  does  not  become  legible 
again  until  line  4. 

4  (Their  fighting  men  with)  arrows  I  slew.     In  the  midst 
of  this  battle  BURANATE  (of  the  country  of  Yazbukians) 

5  took   my   hand.       The    great    fortified   cities   of    the 
Patinians  I  threw  down,  (dug  up,  and  burned  with  fire.) 

6  The   upper   (cities)    of  Palestine  and   the  sea  of  the 
setting  sun 

1  Or,  "  I  satisfied  the  ordinances  of  the  great  gods,  in  that." 

3  The  Orontes  of  classical  geography. 

3  Khiluk  may  be  the  same  as  Khilak  or  Cilicia. 


90  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

7  The  tribute  of  the  Kings  of  the  sea-coast  I  received. 
On  the  shores  of  the  broad  sea  .  . 

8  I  descended.     An  image  of  my  Lordship,  the  main- 
tainer  of  my  name  for  ages,  I  made.     By  the  sea-side  (I 
set  it  up). 

9  To  the  mountains  of  Amanus  I  ascended.     Logs  of 
cedar  and  fir  I  cut.     To  mountains  (I  went  up.    Against) 

10  the  land  of  Atalur,  an  uninhabited  place  of  deserts 
(and)  low -lying,  I  went.     Its  tribute  I  appointed.     From 
the  sea  (I  departed.) 

1 1  The  cities  of  Taya  .  .   Khazazu,  Nulia,  (and)  Butamu, 
belonging  to  the  Patinians,  I  took.     Two  thousand  eight 
hundred  fighting-men  ... 

12  I  slew.     Fourteen  thousand  six  hundred  of  their  slaves 
I    carried   away.     The    tribute    of   ARAME,    the    son   of 
Gu'si,  silver,  gold,  oxen  .... 

13  sheep,    goats,   ornaments  of  gold,  (and)  silver   specie, 
I  received.      In  the  same  year  during  my  own  eponymy,1 
in  the  month    lyyar,  the    i3th   day,    from   the    city  (of 
Nineveh) 

14  I  departed.     The  river  Tigris  I  crossed.     Through  the 
countries  of  Kha'samu  (and)   Dikhnunu  I  passed.     To 
the  city  of  Tul-Barsip,  the  stronghold  of  AKHUNI 

15  the  son  of  ADINI,  I  approached.     AKHUNI  the  son  of 
ADINI  to  the  power  of  his  armies  trusted  and  to  meet  me 
came.     A  destruction  of  him  I  made.     In  (his  city) 

1 6  I   shut  him  up.     From  the  city  of  Tul-Barsip  I   de- 
parted.    In  large  vessels  of  skin  the  Euphrates  in  its  upper 
part  I  crossed.     The  cities  of  .   .  .  .  ga,  Tagi  .  .  .  .  , 

17  'Surunu,    Paripa,    Mabasere,    (and)    Dabigu,   6    of  his 
strongholds  belonging  to  AKHUNI  I  took.     His  fighting- 
men 

1   Lit.,  "  in  the  eponymy  of  the  year  of  my  name  aforesaid." 


INSCRIPTION    OF    SHALMANESER.  91 

1 8  in  numbers  I  slew.     Their  spoil  I  carried  away.     Two 
hundred  cities  which  depended  on  him  I  threw  down, 
dug  up  (and)  burned  with  fire.     From  the  city  of  Dabigu 
(I  departed). 

19  To  the  city  of  'Sazabe,  his  stronghold   belonging  to 
'SANGARA  of  the  city  of  Carchemish,  I  approached.    The 
city  I  besieged,  I  took.     Their  fighting-men  in  numbers  I 
slew. 

20  Their  spoil  I  carried  away.   The  cities  which  depended 
on  him  I  threw  down,  dug  up,  (and)  burned  with  fire. 
The  Kings  of  the  country,  throughout  the  whole  extent 
of  it, 

2 1  from  before  the  sight  of  my  mighty  weapons  and  my 
watchful   battle  fled-in-fear  and   took  my  feet.     (From) 
their  country,  even  the  country  of  the  Patinians, 

22  3  talents  of  gold,  100  talents  of  silver,  300  talents  of 
bronze,  300  talents  of  iron,  1000  plates  of  bronze,  1000 
robes  of  variegated  thread  and  wool,  their  daughters 

23  with   numerous   presents,   20   talents   of  white   (and) 
purple  raiment,  500  oxen,  5000  sheep  I  received.     Two 
talents  of  white  (and)  purple  raiment  for  one  talent  of 
precious  metal,  (and)  100  beams  of  cedar, 

24  as  tribute,  over  them  I  imposed.    The  fixed  sum  in  my 
city  Assur  I  duly  received.     (From)  KHAYANU,  the  son 
of  GABBARI,  who  (dwelt)  at  the  foot  of  Amanus,  talents 
of  silver,  talents 

25  of  copper,  talent(s)  of  iron,   300  robes  of  variegated 
thread  and  wool,  300  oxen,  3000  sheep,  200  beams  of 
cedar,  2  images  of  cedar,  (and) 

26  his  daughter  with  her  gifts  I  received.     Ten  manehs  of 
silver,  200  beams  of  cedar,  images  of  cedar,  as  tribute 
upon  them  I  imposed.     The  fixed  sum 

27  I  duly  received.     (From)  ARAMU,  the  son  of  AGU'SI, 
10  manehs  of  gold,  6  talents  of  silver,  500  oxen,  (and) 


92  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

5000  sheep  I  received.     (From)  'SANGARA  of  the  city  of 
the  Carchemishians  one-third  talent 

28  of  gold,  one  and  a  sixth  talent  of  silver,  30  talents  of 
bronze,    100    talents  of  iron,    20    talents  of  white   (and) 
purple  cloth,  5  thrones,  his  daughter  with  gifts  and  100 
of  his  nobles'  daughters, 

29  500  oxen,  (and)  5000  sheep  I  received.     One  maneh 
of  gold  (and)  2  talents  of  white  and  purple  cloth  to  one 
talent  of  silver,  a  high  tribute,  I  imposed.    The  fixed  sum 
I  duly  received.     (From)  KATAZILU, 

30  of  Comagene,  20  manehs  of  silver,  (and)  300  beams  of 
cedar,  the  fixed  sum  I  duly  received.     In  the  eponymy 
of  ASSUR-BILA-CAYIN,  the  month  Tammuz,  the  i3th  day, 
from  the  city  of  Nineveh  I  departed. 

3 1  The  river  Tigris  I  crossed.   The  countries  of  Kha'samu 
(and)  Dikhnunu  I  traversed.     To  the  city  of  Tul-Barsip, 
his  stronghold  belonging  to  AKHUNI  the  son  of  ADINI 
I  betook  myself.     AKHUNI 

32  the  son  of  ADINI  from  before  the  sight  of  my  mighty 
weapons  and  my  watchful  battle  to  save  his  life  (fled-in- 
fear).     The  Tigris  I  crossed  (to  go) 

33  against  the  hostile  countries  (which  had)  revolted.     By 
the  command  of  ASSUR,  my  great  Lord,  the  cities  of  Tul- 
Barsip,  Align,  .   .   sagukana,  (and)  Manya 

34  I  seized.     Men,  even  the  men  of  Assyria,  in  the  midst 
(of  the  country)  I  settled.     The  palaces  for  the  seat  of 
my  Majesty  within   it  I   took.     The  city  of  Tul-Barsip 
the  city  of  "  The  Fort  of  Shalmaneser  " 

35  by  name,  the  city  of  Nappigi  the  city  of  "The  Law  of 
Assur  "  by  name,  the  city  of  Alligi  the  city  "  I  took ;   not 
for  you  "  by  name,  the  city  of  Ruguliti  the  city  of  "  The 
Command  (of  ASSUR)"  by  name,  I  called  them.     At  that 
time 

36  to  the  city  of  Assur  I  returned.     I  took  what  the  kings 


INSCRIPTION    OF    SHALMANESER.  93 

of  the  Patinians  had  called  the  city  of  Pethor,  which  (is) 
upon  the  river  'Sagura  on  the  hither  side  of  the  Euphrates, 

37  and  the  city  of  Mutunu  which  (is)  on  the  further  side 
of  the  Euphrates,  which  TIGLATH-PILESER,  the  royal  fore- 
father who  went  before  me  had  (united)  to  my  country, 

(but)  ASSUR-RAB-BURI 

38  King  of  Assyria  (and)  the  King  of  Syria  (ARUMU)  by  a 
treaty  had   taken   away,  these   cities    to   their   places   I 
restored.     The  children  of  the  Assyrians  in  the  midst  (of 
them)  I  settled. 

39  While  in  the  city  of  the  Fort  of  Shalmaneser  I  was 
staying,  the  tribute  of  the  kings  of  the  sea-coast  and  of 
the  kings  of  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates,    silver,    gold, 
lead,  bronze, 

40  plates   of  bronze,    oxen,    sheep,   robes   of  variegated 
thread  and  wool,  I   received.      From  the  Fort  of  Shal- 
maneser I  departed.     The  country  of  'Sugab  I  traversed. 

41  Into  the  country  of  Bit-zamani  I  descended.     From 
the   city  of  Bit-zamani  I    departed.     The    countries    of 
Namdanu  (and)  Mirkhi'su  I  traversed.     Trackless  paths 
(and)  mountains 

42  difficult,  which  like  the  end  of  a  sword  stood  pointed 
to   the   sky,    on   wheels   of  iron    I    penetrated.1      (My) 
chariots  (and)  armies  I  transported.      To  the  country  of 
Enzite  (belonging)  to  the  land  of  Isua 2 

43  I  went   down.     The  country  of  Enzite  to  its  whole 
extent    (my)    hand(s)  conquered.     Their  cities   I    threw 
down,  dug  up,  (and)  burned  with  fire.     Their  spoil,  their 
booty,  their  riches,  to  a  countless  number, 

44  I  carried  off.     An  image  of  my  Majesty  of  a  large  size 
I   made.     The   decrees   of  ASSUR,  the  great  Lord,  my 

1  Lit.,  "  I  dug  up." 

2  Enzite  was  near  the  river  Arzania,  and  Mr.  Norris  notes  that  "  Maps 
of  Armenia  have  the  name  Arzen  at  the  sources  of  the  Tigris." 


94  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

Lord,  and  my  collected  laws  upon  it  I  wrote.     (In)  the 
city  of  'Saluri,  the  citadel I  erected  (it). 

45  From    the    city   of   Enzite    I    departed.       The   river 
Arzania  I    crossed.     To  the  country  of  'Sukhme  I  ap- 
proached.    The  city  of  Vastal,  its  capital,  I  took.     The 
country  of  'Sukhme  to  its  whole  extent 

46  I  overthrew,  dug  up  (and)  burned  with  fire.     'SuA,  the 
Chief  of  their  city,  with  the  hand  I  seized.     From  the 
country   of   'Sukhme    I    departed.      To    the    country  of 
Dayani  I  went  down.     The  city  of  Dayani 

47  to  its  whole  extent  I   occupied.     Their  cities  I  threw 
down,  dug  up  (and)  burned  with  fire.     Their  spoil  (and) 
their   plunder   in   great  quantities    I    took.       From   the 
country  of  Dayani  I  departed. 

48  To  the  city  of  Arzascu,  the  city  of  His  Majesty,  be- 
longing  to   ARRAME  (King)    of   the   Armenians,    I   ap- 
proached.    ARRAME  of  the  Armenians  from  before  the 
sight  of  my  mighty  weapons 

49  (and)  my  watchful  battle  fled-in-fear  and  his  city  aban- 
doned.    To  the  mountains  of  the  country  of  Adduri  he 
ascended.     After  him  to  the  mountains   I  ascended.     A 
hard   battle   in  the  midst    of  the   mountains    I   fought. 
Three  thousand  four  hundred 

50  of  his  fighting-men  with  weapons   I   slew.     Like  the 
Air-god  a  deluge  over  them  I  rained.     Their  corpses  like 
chaff  I  scattered.     His  camp  I  despoiled  him  of. 

5 1  His  chariots,  his  magazines,  his  horses,  his  asses  (and) 
calves,    his   riches,  his   spoil   (and)    his   booty   in   large 
quantities  from  the  midst  of  the  mountains  I   brought 
back.     ARRAME  to  save 

52  his  life  to  inaccessible  mountains  ascended.     With  the 
main-body  of  my  servants  his  country  like  a  threshing-ox 
I  threshed.    To  his  cities  devastation  I  brought.     The  city 
of  Arzascu  together  with  the  cities 


INSCRIPTION    OF    SHALMANESER.  95 

53  which  depended  upon  it  I  threw  down,  dug  up  (and) 
burned  with  fire.     Pyramids  of  the  heads  of  the  people 
over  against  his  great  gate  I  built  up 

[Here  occurs  a  lacuna  of  nearly  a  whole  line.] 

54     heaps  on  stakes  I  impaled.     From  the  city 

of  Arzascu  I  departed.     To  the  mountains 

55  (I  ascended).     An  image  of  my  Majesty  of  a  large  size 
I  made.     The  decrees  of  ASSUR  my  Lord,  and  my  col- 
lected .laws,  which  in  the  country  of  Armenia  I  had  made, 
upon  it 

56  (I  wrote.     In  the  country  of  Eritia)   I    erected   (it). 
From  the  country  of  Eritia  I  departed.     To  the  city  of 
Aramale  I  approached.     Its  cities  I  threw  down,  dug  up 
(and)  burned  with  fire. 

57  From  the  city  of  Aramale  I  departed.     To  the  city  of 
Zanzi'una  (I  approached.     The  King  of  Zanzi'una  feared 
my  battle. )     My  feet  he  took. 

58  Horses   trained    to    the    yoke,   oxen   (and)   sheep   I 
received.     Grace  I  granted.     (From  the  city  of  Zanzi'una 
I  departed.     On  my  return)  to  the  sea 

59  of  the  country  of  Na'iri   I   descended.     The  mighty 
weapons   of  ASSUR  in  the  midst  of  the  sea   I    stayed. 
Sacrifices  I  offered.     An  image  of  my  Majesty  I  made. 
The  decrees 

60  of  ASSUR  the  great  Lord,  my  Lord,  the  records  of  my 
victories   and  my  triumphant   deeds   upon   it   I  wrote. 
(From  the  sea)  I  departed.     To  the  land  of  Gilzani 

6 1  I    approached.       A'SAHU*  King    of    Gilzani    to    his 


1  A'sahu  is  called  'Suha  in  the  first  epigraph  of  the  Black  Obelisk 
inscription.  He  seems  to  be  identical  with  the  A'su  of  Gozan  of  Col.  I  28. 
In  this  case  Gilzanu  will  be  another  form  of  Guzanu,  the  Gozan  of  the 
Bible,  which  lay  between  the  upper  courses  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates. 
Nisibis  was  one  of  its  chief  cities. 


96  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

brothers  (and)  his  sons  my  name  reported,  (and  a  throne) 
of  royalty,  horses 

62  trained  to  the  yoke,  oxen,  sheep,  goats,  and  7  camels 
which  have  two  humps   I  received.     An  image  of  my 
Majesty  of  great  size  I  made.     The  decrees  of  ASSUR, 
the  great  Lord,  my  Lord, 

63  and  my  collected  laws,  which  in  the  land  of  Nahri  I 
made,  upon  it  I  wrote.     In  the  midst  of  his  city,  in  his 
chief  temple,  I   erected  (it).     From  the  land  of  Gilzani 
I  departed. 

64  To  the  city  of  Silaya,  his  strong  city  belonging  to  CACI 
King  of  the  city  Khupuscia,  I  approached.     The  city  I 
besieged,   I    took.     Their  soldiers  in  numbers    I    slew. 
Three  thousand  captives,  their  oxen, 

65  their  sheep,  horses,  asses,  (and)  calves  to  a  countless 
number  I   carried  away.     To  my  city  Assur  I  brought 
(them).     Into  the  lowlands  of  the  country  of  Enzite    I 
descended.     In  the  lowlands  of  the  country  of  Kirruri, 

66  at  the  entrance  of  the  city  of  Arbela  I  came  forth  ; 
and  AKHUNI  the  son  of  ADINI,  who  with I  the  kings  my 
fathers  a  covenant  and  treaty  had  made  (with  regard  to 
whom,    when)    at   the   beginning    of    my    reign   in    the 
eponymy 

67  of  the  year  of  my  own  name  from  the  city  of  Nineveh 
I  departed,  the  city  of  Tul-Barsip  his  capital  I  besieged  ; 
(with)  my  warriors  I  attacked  it ;  (a  destruction)  in  the 
midst  of  it  I  made  ; 

68  its  groves  I  cut  down  ;   a  falling-rain  of  clubs  upon  it 
I  poured ;  from  before  the  sight  of  my  weapons  (and)  the 
terror  of  my  Lordship  he  retreated,  and  his  city  he  left ; 

69  to  save  his  life  the  Euphrates  he  crossed ;  in  the  second 
year    during    the    eponymy     of    ASSUR-BANAYA-YUTSUR 
after  him  I  rode  down.     The  country  of  Sitamrat  (and) 

1  Lit.,  rt  from  (the  time  of )  the  kings." 


INSCRIPTION    OF    SHALMANESER.  97 

the   heights    of   the   mountains    on    the   banks    of    the 
Euphrates, 

70  which  like  a  cloud  equalled  the  sky,  as  a  stronghold  he 
made.     By  the  command  of  ASSUR  the  great  Lord,  my 
Lord,  and  NERGAL  who  goes  before  me,  to  the  country  of 
Sitamrat  I  approached. 

7 1  Where  among  the  Kings  my  fathers  none  within  it  had 
ever  penetrated  in  3  days  (my)  warrior-host  traversed  the 
mountain ;  bravely  (in)  its  heart  opposition  it  brought, 
and  ascended  on  its  feet.     The  mountain 

72  I  swept.    AKHUNI  to  the  extent  of  his  numerous  forces 
trusted  and  against  me  came  forth.    The  line  of  battle  he 
formed.     The  weapons  of  ASSUR  my  Lord  in  the  midst 
of  them  fell-full.     A  destruction  of  them 

73  I  made.    The  heads  of  his  fallen  I  cut  off.     (With)  the 
corpses  of  his   soldiers  the  mountain  I  strewed.       His 
multitudes  into  the  hollows  of  the  mountains  had  been 
driven  together.     Fierce  battle  in  the  midst  of  his  city 

74  I  engaged.     Exceeding  fear  of  ASSUR  my  Lord  over- 
whelmed them.     (When)   they  had   descended  my  feet 
they   took.      AKHUNI  with   his   numerous   forces    (and) 
chariots,  his  magazines,  (and)  the  goods  of  their  palaces 
in  great  quantities, 

75 '  of  which  the  whole  was  not  taken,  to  my  presence  I 
brought,1  The  Euphrates  I  crossed.  To  my  city  ASSUR 
I  conveyed  (them).  As  men  of  my  own  country  I 
counted  them.  In  this  same  year  to  the  country  of 
Mazamua2  I  went.  Into  the  lowlands 

76     of  the  country  of  Buna-gislu  I  descended.     The  cities 

1  The  capture  of  Akhuni  which   is  here   placed  in   the  eponymy  of 
Assur-banaya-yutsur  (856  B.C.)  belongs  to  the  eponymy  of  Dayan-Assur 
(854  B.C.)  according  to  the  Black  Obelisk. 

2  Mazamua  is  also  called  Zamua.     It  lay  on  the  Armenian  side  of  the 
Taurus  range  of  mountains. 

VOL.  III.  8 


98  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

Nikdime  (and)  Nikdera1  I  approached.  From  before 
the  sight  of  my  mighty  weapons  and  my  watchful  battle 
they  fled-in-fear,  and 

77  in  boats  of  wickerwork  to  the  sea  they  proceeded.     In 
boats  of  hardened  skin  after  them  I  betook  myself.     A 
hard  battle  in  the  midst  of  the  sea  I   fought.     A  de- 
struction of  them  I  made. 

78  The  sea  (with)  their  wrecks  like  chaff  I  strewed.   In  the 
eponymy  of  DAYAN-ASSUR,  the  month  lyyar,   the    i4th 
day,  from  the  city  of  Nineveh  I  departed.     The  Tigris  I 
crossed.     To  the  cities 

79  of  Gi'ammu  (of)  the  river  Kaskura  I  approached.    The 
terror   of   my   Lordship    (and)   the  sight  of  my  mighty 
weapons  they  feared,  and  to  prove  their  own  submission7 
GI'AMMU  their  Lord 

80  they  slew.     To  the  city  of  Citlala  and  the  city  of  the 
Mound  of  Pal-akhi  I  descended.     My  gods  I  caused  to 
enter  his  palaces.     A  plundering  in  his  palaces  I  made. 

8 1  The  store-chambers  I  opened.     His  treasure  I  seized. 
His  goods,  his  spoil  I  carried  off.     To  my  city  ASSUR  I 
brought  (them).     From  the  city  of  Citlala  I  departed. 
To  the  city  of  the  Fort  of  Shalmaneser 

82  I   approached.     In  vessels   of  hardened  skin  for  the 
second  time  the  Euphrates  in  its  upper  part  I  crossed. 
The    tribute  of  the    kings    of  the    hither    bank   of  the 
Euphrates,  of  'SANGAR 

83  of  the  city  of  the  Carchemishians,  of  CUNDASPI  of  the 
city  of  the  Comagenians,  of  ARAME  the  son  of  Gu'si,  of 
LALLI  of  the  city  of  the  Lallidians,  of  KHAYANI  the  son 
of  GABARI, 

84  of  DIPPARUDA  of  the  country  of  the  Patinians,  (and) 

1  Nigdiara  is  called  the  chief  of  the  city  of  the  Idians  in  the  Black 
Obelisk  inscription  and  their  conquest  is  placed  in  the  eponymy  of  Dayan- 
Assur. 

2  Lit.,  "  in  the  homage  of  themselves." 


INSCRIPTION   OF   SHALMANESER.  99 

of   DIPPARUDA    of    the    country    of    the   Gamgumians, 
silver,  gold,  lead,  bronze,  plates  of  bronze, 

85  (in)  the  city  Assur-tamsukha-atsbat,1  which  (is)  on  the 
hither  side  of  the  Euphrates  upon  the  river  'Saguri,  which 
the  men  of  the  Hittites  the  city  of  Pethor 

86  have  called,   in  the  midst   (of  it)   I  received.     From 
upon  the  Euphrates  I  departed.     To  the  city  of  Khalman 
I  approached.     Battle  they  feared.     My  feet  they  took. 

87  Silver  (and)  gold  (as)  their  tribute  I  received.    Sacrifices 
before  the  Air-god  of  the  city  of  Khalman  I  offered. 
From  the  city  of  Khalman  I  departed.     To  two  cities 

88  of  IRKHULENI  of  the  country  of  Hamath  I  approached. 
The  cities  of  Adennu,2  Barga,  and  Argana  his  royal  city, 
I  took.     His  spoil,  his  riches, 

89  (and)  the  furniture  of  his  palaces  I  caused  to  be  brought 
out.     To  his  palaces  fire  I  laid.    From  the  city  of  Argana 
I  departed.     To  the  city  of  Karkara  I  approached. 

90  The  city  of  Karkara,  the  city  of  (His)  Majesty,  I  threw 
down,  dug  up  (and)  burned  with  fire.       1200  chariots, 
1200  magazines,  (and)  20,000  men  of  RIMMON-'HIDRIS 

91  of  Damascus,  700  chariots,  700  magazines,  (and)  10,000 
men   of  IRKHULENI   of   Hamath,   2000  chariots,    (and) 
10,000  men  of  AHAB  (Akhabbii) 

92  of  the  country  of  the  Israelites,  500  men  of  the  Guites, 
1000  men  of  the  country  of  the  Egyptians,   10  chariots 
(and)  10,000  men  of  the  country  of  the  Irkanatians, 

93  200  men  of  MATIN-BAAL  of  the  city  of  the  Arvadites, 

1  This  name  would  signify  "  I,  Assur,  took  the  measuring-line."     If  we 
may  alter  one  of  the  characters  in  this  passage  (with  Prof.  Schrader),  the 
translation  would  be :   "  (to)  the  city  of  Assur  I  brought  back,     I  seized 
(the  city)  which  (is)  on  the  hither  side,  etc. ;   in  the  midst  (of  it)  I  received 
(the  tribute)." 

2  The  Eden  of  Scripture. 

3  This  is  the  Ben-hadad   of  the    Bible  whose   personal   name  was,  I 
believe,  Rimmon-adar. 


IOO  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

200  men  of  the  country  of  the  U'sanatians,  30  chariots 
(and)  10,000  men 

94  of  ADONI-BAAL  of  the  country  of  the  Sizanians,  1000 
camels  of  GINDIBRI'AH  of  the  country  of  the  Arbayans,1 
200  men 

95  of  BAH'SA  the  son  of  RUKHUBI  of  the  country  of  the 
Ammonites,   these   twelve    kings    brought   help    to    one 
another,  (and  to  make) 

96  war   and  battle  against  me  had  come.     Through  the 
high  powers  which  ASSUR  the   Lord  gave,  through  the 
mighty  weapons  which  NERGAL  (who  goes  before  me) 

97  furnished,    with   them    I    fought.       From   the   city   of 
Karkara  to  the  city  Gilza'u  a  destruction  of  them  I  made. 
14,000  men 

98  of  their  troops  with  weapons  I  slew.     Like  the  Air-god 
over  them  a  deluge  I  poured.     (With)  their  flight 

99  the  surface  of  the  waters  I  filled.     All  their  hosts  with 
weapons    I    laid  low.      Their  corpses    the  area   of   the 
district 

TOO  failed.2  To  give  the  preservation  of  (their)  lives  to 
the  people,  an  enormous  multitude 3  (of  them)  to  their 
fields  I  distributed  among  the  men  of  the  land. 

101  The  river  Orontes,  close  upon  (its)  banks,  I  reached. 
In  the  midst  of  this  battle  their  chariots,  their  magazines, 
(and) 

102  their  horses   trained  to  the  yoke  I  took  away  from 
them. 

1  Probably  Arabians. 

2  That  is,  there  was  not  space  enough  for  all  the  dead  bodies. 

3  Here,  it  seems  to  me,  Mr.  Norris's  happy  emendation  of  the  text  must 
be  adopted. 


INSCRIPTION    OF    ESARHADDON. 


TRANSLATED    BY 

H.    F.   TALBOT,   F.R.S.,   etc. 


JT  is  recorded  in  2  Kings  xix.  37  and  in  Isaiah 
xxxvii.  38 

"  So  Sennacherib  King  of  Assyria  departed  and 
went,  and  returned  and  dwelt  at  Nineveh. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  as  he  was  worshipping  in  the 
house  of  Nisroch  his  god,  that  Adrammelech  and 
Sharezer  his  sons  smote  him  with  the  sword  ;  and 
they  escaped  into  the  land  of  Armenia. 

"And  Esarhaddon  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead." 

The  Inscription  of  which  I  here  offer  a  translation 
relates  to  this  important  event.  It  is  always  a 
pleasure  to  find  an  Assyrian  inscription  which 
describes,  in  its  own  way,  events  corresponding  to 
those  mentioned  in  Scripture.  The  clay  tablets 


102  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

which  have  been  brought  home  from  Assyria  are  for 
the  most  part  miserably  fractured,  but  in  no  instance 
is  there  greater  reason  to  regret  the  loss  of  a  part  of 
an  inscription  than  here.  For,  it  is  evident  that  the 
portion  of  it  which  is  lost,  described  the  murder  of 
Sennacherib  by  his  unnatural  sons  and  the  receipt  of 
the  sad  intelligence  by  Esarhaddon,  who  was  then 
commanding  an  army  on  the  northern  confines  of  his 
father's  empire.  Had  it  been  preserved,  we  should 
possibly  have  found  in  it  the  names  of  Adrammelech 
and  Sharezer  and  many  particulars  of  the  tragic 
event. 

This  Inscription  found  at  Kouyunjik,  is  now  in  the 
British  Museum.  It  was  first  published  by  Layard  in 
plates  54 — 58  of  his  volume  of  Inscriptions,  and 
since  then,  much  more  accurately,  in  the  3rd  volume 
of  Cuneiform  Inscriptions  of  Western  Asia,  plates  15 
and  1 6.  1st  column  translated  in  the  North  British 
Review,  1870,  p.  379. 


T03 


THE     INSCRIPTION. 


COLUMN  I. 
(All  the  upper  part  of  this  column  is  lost.) 

1  (This  line  is  broken.) 

2  From  my  heart  I  made  a  vow.     My  liver  was  inflamed 
with  rage.1 

3  Immediately  I  wrote  letters  (saying)  that  I  assumed  the 
sovereignty  of  my  Father's  House. 

4  Then  to  ASHUR,   the  MOON,  the   SUN,    BEL,    NEBO, 
NERGAL, 

5  ISHTAR  of  Niniveh,  and  ISHTAR  of  Arbela 

6  I  lifted  up  my  hands.     They  accepted  my  prayer. 

7  In  their  gracious  favour,  an  encouraging  oracle 

8  they  sent  to  me  :  "  Go  !  fear  not ! 

9  We  march  at  thy  side  !  We  aid  thy  expedition  ! " 

10  For  one  or  two  days2  I  did  not  stir  from  my  position  ; 
I  did  not  move  the  front  of  my  army, 

1 1  and  I  did  not  move  my  rear  :   the  tethering  ropes  of 
my  horses,  trained  to  the  double  yoke,3 

12  I  did  not  remove.     I  did  not  strike  my  camp. 

13  But   I   made   haste   to   provide   the   needful   for  the 
expedition. 

14  A  great  snow  storm  in  the  month  of  January4  darkened 
the  sky,  but  I  did  not  recede. 

1  The  liver  was  the  seat  of  rage  or  anger  according  to  the  ancients — 
"  quanta  jecur  ardeat  z'ra."  (Juvenal.) 

2  The  army  was  in  winter  quarters,  not  expecting  any  service,  when  it 
was  thus  suddenly  called  upon  to  act.     Hence  the  delay  of  some  days  in 
getting  ready. 

3  Their  chariots  were  drawn  by  2  horses. 

4  He  was  then  in  the  mountains,  where  the  snow-drifts  would  soon  make 
the  ways  impassable  to  an  army. 


IO4  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

1 5  Then,  as  a  sirin  bird  spreads  its  wings 

1 6  so  I  displayed  my  standards,  as  a  signal  to  my  allies ; 

1 7  and  with  much  toil,  and  in  haste,  I  took  the  road  to 
Niniveh. 

1 8  But,  getting  before  my  troops,  in  the  hill  country  of  the 
Khani-Rabbi,  all  their  warriors 

19  powerful  attacked  the  front  of  my  army  and  discharged 
their  arrows. 

20  But  the  terror  of  the  great  gods  my  Lords  overwhelmed 
them. 

21  When    they   saw   the    valour  of  my  great  army  they 
retreated  backwards. 

22  ISHTAR  queen  of  war  and  battle,  who  loves  my  piety, 

23  stood  by  my  side.     She  broke  their  bows. 

24  Their  line  of  battle  in  her  rage  she  destroyed. 

25  To  their  army  she  spoke  thus  :    "An  unsparing  deity 
am  I." 

26  By   her   high    command    (or    favour)    I    planted    my 
standards  where  I  had  intended.1 


COLUMN  II. 

(The  commencement  of  this  column  is  broken  off.  The 
meaning  is  doubtful  :  but  it  seems  that  during  the  time  of 
trouble  which  followed  the  death  of  SENNACHERIB,  a  son  of 
MERODACH  BALADAN  named  NEBO-ZIR-ZIZ  or  NEBO-ZIR- 
GISIDI  took  the  opportunity  to  rebel  in  lower  Chaldaea. 
The  following  lines  appear  to  refer  to  this  event.) 

1     the  insurgent  King 

2  assembled  his  camp,   and  marching  against    NIN-GAL 


1  This  probably  means,  "  I  planted  them  at  Niniveh  : "  but  the  rest  of 
the  column  being  broken  off,  the  necessary  explanation  of  the  phrase  is 
wanting. 


INSCRIPTION    OF    ESARHADDON.  105 

3  Prefect  of  Ur,  who  was  my  loyal  subject, 

4  killed  him  with  the  sword ;   and  seized  his 

5  and  even  after  the  time  that  ASHUR,  the  SUN,   BEL, 
NEBO,  ISHTAR  of  Niniveh 

6  and  ISHTAR  of  Arbela  had  me,  ESARHADDON, 

7  on  the  throne  of  my  father  happily  seated, 

8  and  the  sovereignty  of  the  land  had  given  to  me,  even 
then  he  worshipped  me  not : 

9  he  gave  me  no  more  gifts,  he  would  not  do  homage 
to  me, 

10  and  his  envoy  to  my  presence 

1 1  he  would  not  send.     He  would  not  even  enquire  after 
the  health  of  My  Majesty.1 

12  When  I  heard  at  Niniveh  of  his  evil  doings, 

13  my  heart  swelled  :    my  liver  was  inflamed  with  rage. 
My  Officers 

14  and   Magistrates  who   were   nearest   his   land   I   sent 
against  him. 

15  Then   he,    NEBO-ZIR-ZIZ   who   was    a    gluttonous   vile 
ignoble  man 

1 6  hearing  of  the  march  of  my  troops,   fled  away  con- 
temptibly to  the  land  of  Elam. 

1 7  Nevertheless  the  anger  of  the  great  gods  whose  worship 
he  had  abandoned,  ASHUR,  the  MOON,  the  SUN, 

1 8  BEL  and  NEBO  laid  great  affliction  upon  him 

19  and  in  the  land  of  Elam  slew  him  with  the  sword. 

20  NEITH-MARDUK  his  brother,  the  deeds  in  the  land  of 
Elam 

2 1  which  I  had  done  to  his  brother,  seeing, 

2  2     from  the  land  of  Elam  fled,  and  to  do  homage  to  me 

23  came  into  Assyria,  and  supplicated  my  Majesty. 

24  The  province  of  the  sea  coast,  the  whole  of  it,  which 
was  the  inheritance  of  his  brother,  I  gave  to  him. 

1  A  universal  custom.     To  neglect  it  showed  hostile  intentions. 


106  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

25  Every  year  without  fail,  with  great  presents 

26  to  Niniveh  he  came  and  kissed  my  feet. 


27  ABDI-MILKUTTI  King  of  Sidon 

28  a  non-worshipper  of  My  Majesty,  and  disobedient  to 
my  royal  words, 

29  who  trusted  to  his  position  on  the  Great  Sea  and  had 
shaken  off  my  yoke, 

30  the  city  of  Sidon,  his  great  city,  which  lay  beside  the 
Great  Sea 

*  -;;-  •*  *  -x- 

(The  rest  of  the  story  of  the  King  of  Sidon  is  broken  off : 
but  it  is  preserved  on  the  other  inscription  marked  B.) 


COLUMN    III. 

(The  third  column  is  a  good  deal  broken  but  is  very  well 
preserved  in  the  other  inscription  B.  I  therefore  omit  it 
here.) 


COLUMN    IV. 

(This  column  relates  the  conquest  of  Batzu  an  Arabian 
country,  nearly  in  the  same  terms  as  in  the  inscription  B.  I 
therefore  $  omit  it,  except  the  following  passage  which 
amplifies  in  an  important  degree  the  brief  statement  of 
inscription  B,  namely,  "  I  put  to  death  8  of  their  sovereigns  " 
(col.  iii.  37)  by  giving  us  their  names,  as  follows,) 

1 9  KITZU  King  of  Kaldili ;   AKBARU  *  King  of  Dupiati ; 

20  MANSAKA    King    of    Magalani ;     YAPAA    Queen    of 
Dihutani 

1  A  name  related  to  the  Arabic  Aklar  (great).  It  is  also  probably  the 
same  with  Abgarus  whose  name  is  celebrated  in  early  ecclesiastical  history. 


INSCRIPTION    OF    ESARHADDON.  107 

21     HABITZU    King    of    Kadasiha :     NIKHARU    King    of 

Gahupani : 
2  2     BAILU  Queen  of  Ikhilu  :  HABANAMRU  King  of  Budahu : 

23  the  eight  sovereigns  of  that  country,  I  put  to  death. 

24  The  bodies  of  their  soldiers  I  flung  away  like  so  much 
clay: 

25  their  gods,  their  wealth,  and  their  people  I  carried  off 
to  Assyria. 

(It  will  be  observed  that  two  of  the  sovereigns  were 
queens.  This  was  a  frequent  custom  in  Arabia,  according 
to  the  cuneiform  inscriptions,  but  as  far  as  I  have  observed 
it  was  confined  to  that  country.  This  fact  is  a  striking 
illustration  of  Scripture  History,  for  it  explains  how  the 
Queen  of  Sheba  (or  the  Sabeans  of  Arabia)  was  able  to 
display  such  royal  magnificence  when  she  visited  Solomon. 
She  was  a  reigning  sovereign.) 


COLUMN   V. 

(The  beginning  of  this  column  agrees  with  the  inscription 
B,  and  is  therefore  omitted.  But  at  line  12  an  important 
passage  is  added.) 

12  I  assembled  the   Kings  of  Syria,  and  of  the  nations 
beyond  the  sea  : 

13  BAAL  King  of  Tyre  :    MANASSEH  King  of  Judah  : 

14  KADUMUKH  King  of  Edom:   MITZURI  King  of  Moab  : 

15  REUBEN-?  King  of  Gaza  :   MITINTI  King  of  Ascalon  : 

1 6  ITUZU    King   of   Amgarrun :     MILKI-ASAPH    King   of 
Gubal : 

1 7  KULU-BAAL    King    of    Arvad  :     ABI-BAAL    King    of 
Ussimiruna : 


I08  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

1 8  BUDUEL  King  of  Beth-Ammon1:    UssuR-MiLKi2   King 
of  Ashdod  : 

19  the  twelve  kings  of  the  sea  coast.     Also  EKISTUZ  King 
of  Edihal  * 

20  PISUAGURA  King  of  Kittie4:  Ki King  of  Sillumi5 : 

21  ITU-DAGON6  King  of  Pappa7:  ERILI  King  of  Sillu8: 

22  DAMASUS  King  of  Kuri9:  RUMITZU  King  of  Tamisus I0 : 

23  DAMUSI  King  of  Amti-khadasta": 

24  UNASSAGURA,12  King  of  Lidini :    BUTZU  King  of  Upri 

13 

25  The  ten  Kings  of  Cyprus14  which  is  in  the  middle  of 
the  sea : 

26  altogether,  twenty-two  Kings  of  Syria  and  the  seacoast, 
and  the  islands,  all  of  them, 

27  and  I  passed  them  in  review  before  me. 


COLUMN    VI. 

(This  sixth  column  diifers  but  little  from  the  corresponding 
portion  of  inscription  B.) 


1  This  king-  had  a  long-  reign,  for  he  was  king-  of  Beth-Ammon  in  Sen- 
nacherib's time,  see  "  Records  of  the  Past,"  vol.  i.  p.  35. 

2  In  the  same  page  we  find  Uru-milki  king  of  Gubal.     I  think  it  may  be 
the  same  name. 

3  /Egisthus,  king  of  Idalium.  4  Pythagoras,  king  of  Citium. 

5  Salamis. 

6  A  Phoenician  name  "  Dagon  is  with  him." 

7  Paphos.  8  Soloe.  9  Curion.     Curias  in  Pliny. 

10  A  city  mentioned  by  Homer:  very  celebrated  for  its  copper  mines. 

11  This  name  was  changed  by  the  Greeks  to  Ammochosta  and  further 
altered  by  the  moderns  into  Famagosta. 

13  Anaxagoras.  ?  I3  Aphrodisium. 

14  The  name  of  Cyprus  in  the  cuneiform  inscriptions  is  Atnan :  whence 
perhaps  the  Greek  name  for  the  island,  Akamantis.     It  took  its  name  from 
capeAkynan  at  the  west  extremity  of  the  island,  which  Strabo  (xiv.  p.  682.) 
describes  as  a  thickly  wooded  headland,  divided  into  two  summits  rising 
towards  the  north.     The  Phoenician  mariners  probably  named  the  island 
from  the  first  land  which  became  visible  on  approaching  it. 


THE    SECOND 


INSCRIPTION     OF     ESARHADDON. 


TRANSLATED    BY 


H.    F.   TALBOT,   F.R.S.,    ETC. 


'"THIS  Inscription  written  on  a  hexagonal  prism  of 
baked  clay,  was  found  near  Niniveh  on  the  mound  of 
Nebbi  Yunus  (prophet  JonaJi}.  It  is  now  in  the 
British  Museum.  It  was  first  published  by  Layard, 
Inscriptions  pi.  20—28,  and  next  by  Rawlinson, 
Inscriptions  Vol.  I.  pi.  45-47.  I  have  translated  it 
several  times,1  introducing  gradual  improvements  as 

1  First,  in  Assyrian  Texts  Translated,  London,  1856;  then  in  the  Journal 
of  Sacred  Literature  vol.  9  p.  68  (April  1859) ;  and  finally  in  the  Trans- 
actions of  the  Royal  Society  of  Literature,  vol.  7,  p.  551. 


110  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

the  meaning  of  words  became  better  known  ;    and   I 
have  again  revised  it  for  the  present  work. 

This  second   Inscription   is  the  one  which  I  have 
denoted  by  the  letter  B  in  the  preceding  pages. 


Ill 


THE    INSCRIPTION. 


COLUMN  I. 

1  (EsARHADDON1  King  of  Sumir)  and  Accad, 

2  (son  of  SENNACHERIB  King  of)  Assyria, 

3  (son  of  SARGON)  King  of  Assyria, 

4  (who  in  the  name  of  ASSUR,  BEL,)  the  MOON,  the  SUN, 

5  NEBO,  MARDUK,  ISHTAR  of  Niniveh, 

6  and  ISHTAR  of  Arbela,  the  great  gods  his  lords 

7  from  the  rising  of  the  sun  to  the  setting  of  the  sun 

8  marched  victorious  without  a  rival. 


9  Conqueror  of  the  city  Sidon,  which  is  on  the  sea, 

10  sweeper  away  of  all  its  villages, 

1 1  its  citadel  and  residence  I  rooted  up, 

12  and  into  the  sea  I  flung  them. 

13  Its  place  of  justice  I  destroyed. 

14  ABDIMILKUTTI  its  king 

15  who  away  from  my  arms 

1 6  into  the  middle  of  the  sea  had  fled 

1 7  like  a  fish  from  out  of  the  sea 

1 8  I  caught  him,  and  I  cut  off  his  head. 

19  His  treasure,  his  goods,  gold  and  silver  and  precious 
stones 

20  skins  of  elephants,   teeth   of  elephants,  dan  wood,  ku 
wood, 

2 1  cloths,  died  purple  and  yellow,  of  every  description 

22  and  the  regalia  of  his  palace 

23  I  carried  off  as  my  spoil. 

24  Men  and  women  without  number 

1  The  words  placed  within  parentheses  in  the  first  four  lines  are  broken 
off,  but  the  restoration  may  be  considered  almost  certain. 


[12  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

25  oxen  and  sheep  and  mules 

26  I  swept  them  all  off  to  Assyria. 

27  I  assembled  the  Kings  of  Syria 

28  and  the  sea  coast,  all  of  them.1 

29  (The  city  of  Sidon)2  I  built  anew, 

30  and  I  called  it  "The  City  of  ESARHADDON." 

31  Men,  captured  by  my  arms,  natives  of  the  lands 

32  and  seas  of  the  East 

33  within  it  I  placed  to  dwell 

34  and  I  set  my  own  officers  in  authority  over  them. 


35  And  SANDUARRI 

36  King  of  Kundi  and  Sitzu 

37  an  enemy  and  heretic,  not  honouring  my  majesty 

38  who  had  abandoned  the  worship  of  the  gods 

39  trusted  to  his  rocky  stronghold 

40  and  ABDIMILKUTTI  King  of  Sidon 

41  took  for  his  ally. 

42  The  names  of  the  great  gods  side  by  side  he  wrote3 

43  and  to  their  power  he  trusted  ; 

44  but  I  trusted  to  ASHUR  my  Lord. 

45  Like  a  bird,  from  out  of  the  mountains 

46  I  took  him,  and  I  cut  off  his  head. 

47  I  wrought  the  judgment  of  ASHUR  my  Lord 

48  on  the  men  who  were  criminals. 

49  The  heads  of  SANDUARRI 

50  and  ABDIMILKUTTI 

51  by  the  side  of  those  of  their  Chiefs  I  hung  up : 

52  and  with  captives  young  and  old;  male  and  female, 

53  to  the  gate  of  Niniveh  I  marched. 

1  They  were  summoned  to  do  homage  to  him  and  then  apparently 
dismissed  again. 

3  These  words  are  broken  off. 

3  As  a  Talisman  which  he  probably  wore  about  his  person  written  on  a 
slip  of  parchment. 


INSCRIPTION    OF    ESARHADDON.  113 

COLUMN  II. 

The  first  lines  are  broken  off :  it  appears  that  the  King 
had  taken  some  prisoners,  to  whom  he  was  resolved  to  show 
no  mercy. 

1  ....  I  collected  them  : 

2  to  Assyria  I  carried  them  off : 

3  and  in  front  of  the  great  entrance  gate  of  Niniveh 

4  along  with  bears,  dogs,  and 

5  I  left  them  to  stay  for  ever. 


6  And  TIUSPA  the  Cimmerian 

7  a  roving  warrior,  whose  own  country  was  remote 

8  in  the  province  of  Khubusna 

9  him  and  all  his  army  I  destroyed  with  the  sword. 


10  Trampler  on  the  heads  of  the  men  of  Khilakki 

1 1  and  Duhuka,  who  dwell  in  the  mountains, 

12  which  front  the  land  of  Tabal, 

13  who  trusted  to  their  mountains 

14  and  from  days  of  old  never  submitted  to  my  yoke  : 

1 5  twenty-one  of  their  strong  cities 

1 6  and  smaller  towns  in  their  neighbourhood 

17  I  attacked  captured  and  carried  off  their  spoil 

1 8  I  ruined  destroyed  and  burnt  them  with  fire. 

19  The  rest  of  the  men,  who  crimes 

20  and  murders  had  not  committed 

21  I  only  placed  the  yoke  of  my  empire  heavily  upon 
them. 

22  Crusher  of  the  people  of  Barnaki,  enemies  and  heretics 

23  who  dwell  in  Telassar ' 

1  Telassar  is  mentioned  in  2  Kings  xix.  12  and  Isaiah  xxxvii,  12  as  a  city 
inhabited  by  the  children  of  Eden,  conquered  by  the  Assyrians  in  the  time 
of  Sennacherib,  or  perhaps  earlier. 

VOL.  III.  9 


114  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

24  which,  in  the  language  of  the  people, 

25  Mikhran  Pitan1 

26  its  name  is  called. 


27  Destroyer  of  the  people  of  Manna 

2  8  who  worship  not  the  host  of  heaven  : 

29  and  the  army  of  ISPAKAYA 

30  King  of  Ashguza,  their  ally  who  could  not  save  himself 

31  I  slew  with  the  sword. 


32  Conqueror    of    NEBO-zm-zismi2    son    of    MERODACH 
BALADAN 

33  who  trusted  to  the  King  of  Elam 

34  but  did  not  thereby  save  his  life. 

35  NAHiT-MARDUK3  his  brother 

36  I  summoned  to  do  homage  to  me. 

37  From  out  of  Elam  he  fled, 

38  to  Niniveh  my  royal  city 

39  he  came  and  kissed  my  feet 

40  The  province  of  the  sea  coast,  the  whole  of  it, 

41  the  inheritance  of  his  brother,  I  gave  to  him. 


42  Spoiler  of  the  city  of  Beth-Dakkurri 

43  which  is  in  Chaldaea,  but  in  enmity  with  Babylon  ; 

44  burner  of  SHEMS-iBNi4  its  king 

45  a  man  sinister  and  tyrannical,  who  worshipped  not  the 
name  of  the  Lord  of  lords  :5 

46  who  the  lands  of  the  children  of  Babylon 

I  The  name  Pitan  is  also  capable  of  being  pronounced  Atan  or  Adan 
which  has  some  resemblance  to  "  Eden  "  in  the  Biblical  passage. 

II  The  name  may  mean,  "  Nebo  grant  a  happy  life  !  " 

3  Nahit  is  the  name  of  a  goddess,  otherwise  Anahit :    the  Anaitis  of 
Greek  authors. 

4  This  name  signifies  "  The  Sun  created  me." 

5  The  god  Marduk. 


INSCRIPTION    OF    ESARHADDON. 

47  and  Borsippa1  had  taken  possession  of. 

48  Then  I  the  worship  of  BEL  and  NEBO  within 

49  those  lands  restored, 

50  and  to  the  children  of  Babylon  and  Borsippa 

51  I  gave  them  back. 

52  NEBO-SHALLIM  son  of  BALAZU 

53  I  placed  on  his  throne 

54  and  he  became  my  servant 


55  The  city  of  Edom,  the  stronghold  of  the  Arabians 

56  which  SENNACHERIB  King  of  Assyria 

57  my  father  had  conquered 

(The  rest  of  this  column  is  broken  off. ) 


COLUMN  III. 

The  first  three  lines  are  very  much  broken.  A  king  whose 
•name  is  lost,  but  who  was  probably  Hazael,  comes  to  make 
his  submission  to  Esarhaddon. 

4  with  great  presents 

5  to  Niniveh  my  royal  city 

6  he  came  and  kissed  my  feet : 

7  then,  holding  forth  his  gods,  he  addressed  me  with 
supplications : 

8  I  had  pity  on  him  : 

9  those  gods,  I  repaired  their  injuries, 

10  the  emblem  of  ASHUR  my  lord 

1 1  and  the  writing  of  my  own  name  I  caused  to  be  written 
upon  them 

12  and  I  restored  them  to  him  again. 

13  TABUA,  a  young  woman  brought  up  in  my  palace 

14  I  appointed  to  be  their  Queen, 

1  Probably  some  outlying-  districts  claimed  by  Babylon  and  Borsippa. 


Il6  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

15  and  with  her  gods  to  her  land  I  restored  her. 

1 6  65  camels,  beyond  the  tribute  which 

1 7  he  paid  to  my  late  father,  I  augmented  it 

1 8  and  imposed  it  upon  him. 

19  After  the  death  of  HAZAEL 

20  YAHILU  his  son 

21  I  seated  upon  his  throne  : 

22  ten  mana  of  gold,  1000  precious  stones 

23  fifty  camels,  a  thousand  ( ) 

.24  beyond  what  his  father  paid,  I  imposed  upon  him. 


25  Batzu,1  a  land  whose  situation  is  remote 

26  a  most  arid  district,  the  very  dwellingplace  of  famine, 

27  140  kasbu2  of  ground,  rocky, 

28  broken,  and  strewed  with  cutting  stones  ; 

29  a  wild  region,3  very  hot, 

30  which  like  a  desert  was  full  of  scorpions: 

31  then,    20  kasbu   of  rocky  land,   a  mere  mountain  of 
sakkilmut  stone 

32  behind  me  I  left,  and  I  marched 

33  where  from  old  time 

34  no  King  before  me  had  ever  gone. 

35  By  the  will  of  ASHUR  my  lord 

36  into  the  midst  of  it  triumphantly  I  entered. 

37  Eight  sovereigns4  who  dwelt  in  that  land 

38  I  slew  :  their  gods,  their  wealth,  their  treasures 

39  and  their  people  I  carried  off  to  Assyria. 

40  LAYALI  King  of  Yadihu 

1  Batzu  was  a  province  of  Arabia. 

2  This  is  an  exaggeration  of  the  scribe.      Read  perhaps  forty  kasbu. 
The  land  of  Batzu  is  elsewhere  described  as  being  only  100  kaslu  from 
Niniveh  itself. 

3  Inscription  A  has  "  region,"  for  which  inscription  B  substitutes  "  20 
kasbu "  which  I  think  is  a  mistake.      Those  words  have  probably  been 
borrowed  from  line  31  where  they  are  found  again. 

4  Their  names  are  given  in  the  First  inscription. 


INSCRIPTION    OF    ESARHADDON.  1 17 

41  who  had  fled  from  before  my  arms 

42  heard  of  the  capture  of  his  gods 

43  and  to  Niniveh  my  royal  city 

44  he  came  to  my  royal  presence 

45  and  kissed  my  feet. 

46  I  took  pity  on  him  :  I  spoke  to  him  kindly. 

47  His  gods  which  I  had  captured,  the  emblem  of  ASHUR 
my  lord 

48  I  wrote  upon  them,  and  gave  them  to  him  again. 

49  Those  provinces  of  the  land  of  Batzu 

50  I  gave  to  him  ; 

51  tribute  payable  to  my  Majesty 

52  I  imposed  upon  him. 

53  BELBASHA  son  of  BUNANI  King  of  the  Gambulians 

54  who  at  the  distance  of  12  kasbu  among  the  waters  and 
the  marshes 

55  like  fishes,  had  placed  their  dwellings, 

56  by  the  will  of  ASHUR  my  lord,  terror  struck  him, 

57  and  of  his  own  accord 

58  presents  and  tribute 

59  fine  fatted  oxen 

(The  rest  of  this  column  is  broken  off. ) 


COLUMN   IV. 
Commencement  broken — an  unnamed  warrior  submits. 

1     he  kissed  my  feet. 

2  I  had  mercy  on  him  :  I  washed  out  his  rebellion. 

3  The  city  of  Shapi-Bel  his  stronghold 

4  I  strengthened  its  fortifications. 

5  Himself  and  his  archers  into  it 

6  I  caused  to  enter, 


RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 


7     and  I  placed  him  there,  to  be  like  a  strongly-barred 
gate  at  the  entrance  of  Elam. 


8  The  province  of  Patusarra,  which  is  on  the  frontier 
of 

9  which  is  in  distant  Media 

10  which  belongs  to  Bikni  where  the  mountains  of  ala- 
baster are, 

n  which  in  the  time  of  the  Kings  my  fathers  no  one 
trod 

1 2  the  soil  of  their  territory, 

13  SlDIRPARNA  aild  EPARNA1 

14  Chiefs  of  fortresses 

15  which  had  not  submitted  to  my  yoke 

1 6  themselves  and  their  men,  their  horses  and  chariots 

17  oxen  and  sheep,  mules,  Bactrian  camels, 

1 8  a  mighty  spoil,  I  carried  off  to  Assyria. 


19  UPPIZ  Chief  of  the  city  Partakka 

20  ZANASAN  Chief  of  the  city  Pardukka 

21  RAMATIAH  Chief  of  the  city  Uraka-Zabarna 

22  cities  of  Media  whose  position  is  remote 

23  who  in  the  times  of  the  Kings  my  fathers  the  land  of 
Assyria 

24  never  entered,  nor  ever  trod  its  soil, 

25  the  great  terror  of  ASHUR  my  lord  overwhelmed  them. 

26  Excellent  horses,  the  choicest  zamat  stone  of  their  land 

27  to  Niniveh  my  royal  city 

28  they  brought,  and  kissed  my  feet 

29  After  that,  the   Chiefs  of  certain   revolted  cities  met 
together 

30  and  besought  my  Majesty 

31  and  obtained  my  assistance. 

1  Parna  meant  "Chief"  in  the  Medo-Persian  language.      Pharnabazus, 
Tissaphernes,  Artaphernes,  are  familiar  instances. 


INSCRIPTION    OF    ESARHADDON.  119 

32  My  Magistrates  and  Chief  Officers 

33  who  dwelt  near  to  their  cities 

34  I  dispatched  in  their  company 

35  and  the  men  who  dwelt  in  those  cities 

36  they  trampled  down,  and  compelled  them  to  receive 
their  yoke. 

37  Tribute  and  presents,  payable  each  year  to  my  Majesty, 
I  imposed  upon  them. 


38  After  that  ASHUR,  the  SUN,  BEL  and  NEBO 

39  ISHTAR  of  Niniveh  and  ISHTAR  of  Arbela 

40  over  my  enemies  by  victories 

41  had  fixed  me  firmly,  I  fulfilled  my  wish  to  worship  them. 

42  Out  of  the  spoils  of  foreign  countries 

43  which  by  the  help  of  the  great  gods  my  lords 

44  my  hands  had  conquered 

45  Temples 'in  the  holy  cities  of  Assyria 

46  and  Babylonia  I  constructed  ; 

47  with  silver  and  gold  I  adorned  them 

48  and  I  made  them  as  bright  as  the  day. 


49  In  those  same  days,  the  royal  palace 

50  of  the  centre  of  Niniveh 

5 1  which  the  Kings  my  fathers  who  went  before  me 

52  had  made,  for  the  protection  of  a  camp 

53  the  care  of  horses,  mares, 

54  chariots  able  to  carry  munitions  of  war 

55  and  foreign  spoil  of  every  kind 

56  which  ASHUR  King  of  the  gods 

57  had  given  to  my  arms 

(Most  of  the  rest  of  this  column  is  broken  off.) 


I2O  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

COLUMN   V. 

1  (I  brought  captives  from  lands  which  had  warred  against 
me) 

2  I  caused  crowds  of  them  to  work  in  fetters 

3  in  making  bricks. 

4  That  small  palace 

5  I  pulled  down  the  whole  of  it. 

6  Much  earth  in  baskets 

7  from  the  fields  I  brought  away 

8  and  threw  it  upon  that  spot, 

9  and  with  stones  of  great  size 
10     I  completed  the  mound. 


11  I  assembled  22  Kings,1  of  the  land  of  Syria 

1 2  and  of  the  sea  coast  and  the  islands,  all  of  them 

13  and  I  passed  them  in  review. 

14  Great  beams  and  rafters 

15  of  abimi  wood z  cedar  and  cypress 

1 6  from  the  mountains  of  Sirar  and  Lebanon, 

1 7  divine  images,  bas  reliefs, 

1 8  stone  ilu,  slabs 

19  of  granite  and  alabaster 

20  and  of  various  other  stones 

21  ditto.  ditto? 

22  from  the  mountain  quarries 

23  the  place  of  their  origin 

24  for  the  adornment  of  my  palace 

25  with  labour  and  difficulty 

26  unto  Niniveh  they  brought  along  with  them. 

27  In  a  fortunate  month,  and  on  a  holy  day, 

28  upon  that  mound 

1  For  their  names  see  the  First  inscription.  2  Ebony. 

3  N.B.     Their  names  are  given,  but  they  have  not  been  identified. 


INSCRIPTION    OF    ESARHADDON.  121 

29  great  palaces 

30  for  the  residence  of  my  Majesty 

31  I  began  to  build. 

32  A  great  building  of  95  measures  in  length 

33  and  31  in  breadth 

34  which  in  the  days  of  the  Kings  my  fathers  who  went 
before  me 

35  none  ever  had  made,  I  made. 

36  With  beams  of  lofty  cedar  trees 

37  I  laid  its  roof 

38  doors  of  cypress  whose  wood  is  excellent 

39  with  cunning  work  of  silver  and  copper  I  inlaid 

40  and  fitted  them  to  the  gates. 

41  Bulls  and  lions,  carved  in  stone 

42  which  with  their  majestic  mien 

43  deter  wicked  enemies  from  approaching, 

44  the  guardians  of  the  footsteps,  the  saviours 

45  of  the  path,  of  the  King  who  constructed  them 

46  right  and  left  I  placed  them 

47  at  the  gates. 

48  A  palace  of  stone  and  cedar  wood 

49  of  well  contrived  dimensions 

50  for  the  repose  of  my  Majesty 

51  artistically  I  made. 

52  Lionesses  of  bronze,  painted 

53  on  the  hither*  side,  and  before,  and  behind, 

54  on  sculptured  bases  I  placed  within  it. 

COLUMN  VI. 

1  Of  fine  cedar  wood  and  ebony 

2  I  made  the  ceilings  of  the  apartments. 

3  The  whole  of  that  palace 

1  One  side  being  turned  to  the  wall,  and  therefore  unpainted.     But  the 
meaning-  of  the  word  is  doubtful. 


122  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

4  with  veneered  slabs  of  ivory  and  alabaster 

5  I  embellished,  and  I  embroidered  its  tapestries.1 

6  With  flat  roofs,  like  &  floor  of  lead, 

7  I  covered  the  whole  building 

8  and  with  plates  of  pure  silver  and  bright  copper 

9  I  lined  its  interior. 


10  The  mighty  deeds  of  ASHUR  my  lord 

1 1  which  in  foreign  hostile  lands 

12  he  had  done 

13  by  the  skill  of  sculptors  I  erected  within  it. 

14  Cedars,  like  those  of  the  land  of  Khamana 

15  which  all  other  shrubs  and  trees 

1 6  excel,  I  planted  around  it. 

17  Its  courts  greatly  I  enlarged, 

1 8  its  stalls  very  much  I  improved 

19  for  the  stabling  of  horses  within  it. 

20  Wells  I  skilfully  made 

21  and  I  covered  them  properly. 

22  That  great  building  from  its  foundation 

23  to  its  summit 

24  I  built  and  I  finished.     I  filled  with  beauties 

25  the  Great  Palace  of  my  Empire, 

26  and  I  called  it  "  The  Palace  which  rivals  the  world." 


27  ASHUR,  ISHTAR  of  Niniveh,  and  the  gods  of  Assyria 

28  all  of  them,  I  feasted2  within  it: 

29  victims  precious  and  beautiful 

30  I  sacrificed  before  them 

3 1  and  I  caused  them  to  receive  my  gifts. 

1  Urakma  kili-su.  The  verb  rakam  "  to  embroider"  has  been  retained 
not  only  in  Hebrew,  etc.,  but  even  in  the  Italian  ricamare  and  in  French 
and  Spanish.  The  commerce  of  the  Levant  probably  introduced  the 
word. 

"  There  was  always  a  feast  of  inauguration. 


INSCRIPTION    OF    ESARHADDON.  123 

32  I  did  for  those  gods  whatever  they  wished. 

33  The  great  Assembly  of  my  kingdom 

34  the  Chiefs,  and  the  people  of  the  land,  all  of  them, 

35  according  to  their  tribes  and  cities 

36  on  lofty  seats 

37  I  seated  within  it 

38  and  I  made  the  company  joyful. 

39  With  the  wine  of  grapes  I  furnished  their  tables 

40  and  I  let  martial  music  resound  among  them. 


41  In  the  name  of  ASHUR  King  of  the  gods,  and  the  gods 
of  Assyria 

42  all  of  them,  with  sound  limbs,  cheerful  mind, 

43  brightness  of  heart,  and  a  numerous  offspring 

44  within  it  long  may  I  continue  to  dwell  ! 

45  and  long  may  its  glory  endure  ! 

46  In  the a  fine  race  of  horses 

47  mares,  mules,  and  camels, 

48  able  to  carry  munitions  of  war 

49  for  a  whole  army,  with  its  foreign  spoils  : 

50  every  year  without  fail 

5 1  may  it  receive  them  within  it ! 

52  Within  this  Palace 

53  may  the  bull1  of  good  fortune,   the  genius  of  good 
fortune 

54  the  guardian  of  the  footsteps  of  my  Majesty 

55  the  giver  of  joy  to  my  heart 

56  for  ever  watch  over  it !     Never  more 

57  may  its  care  cease  ! 


58  In  future  days,  under  the  Kings  my  sons 

59  whom  ASHUR  and  ISHTAR  to  the  government  of  this 
land  and  people 

1  Carved  in  stone. 


124  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

60  shall  name  their  names, 

6 1  when  this  Palace 

62  shall  grow  old  and  decay, 

63  the  man  who  shall  repair  its  injuries, 

64  and  in  like  manner  as  I  the  tablet  written 

65  with  the  name  of  the  King  my  father,  along  with  the 
tablet  written  with  my  own  name 

66  have  placed,  so  do  Thou1  after  my  example 

67  read  aloud  the  tablet  written  with  my  name 

68  then  pour  a  libation  on  the  altar  !    sacrifice  a  victim  ! 

69  and  place  it  with  the  tablet  written  with  thy  own  name ! 

70  so  shall  ASHUR  and  ISHTAR 

7 1  hear  thy  prayers  ! 


COLOPHON. 

In  the  month  of  Ab  (July)  day  the  i8th. 
Date  on  another  fragment. 

In  the  month   of in  the   Eponymy  of  ATARAN 

prefect  of  the  city  Lakhiri. 

1  The  king-  here  addresses  his  successor  (whoever  he  may  be). 


AN     ACCADIAN     LITURGY. 


TRANSLATED    BY 

REV.    A.     H.     SAYCE,    M.A. 


'T*HE  fragments  given  below  form  part  of  one  of 
the  most  interesting  of  the  religious  hymns  in  the 
Liturgy  of  the  early  Babylonians.  The  mutilated 
condition  of  the  tablet  is  greatly  to  be  regretted 
since  the  general  character  of  the  hymn  and  its 
allusions  to  most  of  the  primary  articles  of  the  old 
Accadian  mythological  faith  mark  it  out  as  having 
been  a  special  favourite  for  devotional  purposes. 
M.  Francois  Lenormant  believes  that  it  was  put  into 
the  mouth  of  the  god  Hea,  and  draws  attention  to 
the  fact  that  the  sword  or  disk  which  it  celebrates, 
with  its  50  external  points  and  its  7  concentric  rays, 
is  analogous  not  only  to  the  chakra  of  the  Indian 


126  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

heroes  but  also  to  the  flaming  sword  that  guarded 
the  entrance  to  Paradise.  Besides  this  reference,  the 
hymn  alludes  also  to  the  creation  of  heaven  and 
earth,  to  the  flood  and  that  "  mountain  of  the  world  " 
on  which  the  ark  rested,  and  to  the  seven-headed 
serpent  which  reappears,  as  it  would  seem  in  a 
borrowed  form,  in  Hindu  legend. 

An  interlinear  Assyrian  rendering  is  attached  to 
the  Accadian  original,  which  is  divided  into  lines 
and  stanzas.  These  were  chanted  by  the  priests 
during  the  performance  of  some  religious  ceremony. 
The  remote  antiquity  of  the  hymn,  which  goes  back 
beyond  the  second  millenium  B.C.,  enhances  its 
value. 

The  text  is  lithographed  in  the  Cuneiform  In- 
scriptions of  Western  Asia,  Vol.  II,  pi.  19,  and  a 
translation  of  it  has  been  given  by  M.  Oppert  in  the 
Journal  Asiatique  II.  46,  I,  and  by  M.  Francois 
Lenormant  in  his  Premieres  Civilisations  II.  pp. 
194-196  and  La  Magic  chcz  les  Chaldecns  pp. 
151,  152. 


127 


AN    ACCADIAN    LITURGY. 


(The  beginning  is  lost.  After  a  reference  to  "  the  gods  " 
and  to  the  flight  of  their  enemies  "  like  birds,"  the  hymn 
proceeds  as  follows  :) 

1  Their  strongholds  they  make  for. 

2  Against  the  overwhelming  fear  that  I  inspire,  terrible  as 
(that  of )  ANU,  who  (can)  lift  the  head  ? 

3  I  am  Lord.      The  beetling *  mountains  of  the  earth 
shake  (their)  head  to  the  foundations. 

4  (With)   the  mountain  of  crystal,2  of  lapis  lazuli,3  and 
of  marble 4  my  hand  I  fill. 

5  The  spirits  of  earth,  like  a  bird  of  prey  on  the  sparrows, 
I  cause  to  swoop. 

6  In  the  mountain  to  my  hand  my  mighty  heroism  I 
(commit). 

7  In  my  right  hand  I  bear  my  disk  of  fire.5 

8  In  my  left  I  bear  my  sphere  of  carnage.6 

9  The  sun  of  50  faces,  the  lofty  weapon7  of  my  divinity, 
I  bear. 

i.o     The  hero  that  striketh  the  mountains,  the  propitious 

sun  of  the  morning,8  that  is  mine,  I  bear. 
1 1  js^My  mighty  weapon,  which  like  an  orb  smites  in  a  circle 

the  corpses  of  the  fighters,9  I  bear. 

Lit.,  "enclosed." 

Lit.,  "  stone  of  the  great  light." 

Lit,  "  blue  stone." 

Lit.,  "  white  stone." 

Apparently  this  was  a  name  given  to  the  Moon-god  of  Elam. 

This  is  also  a  name  of  the  Moon  in  Elam. 

In  the  Assyrian  translation  "  the  staff." 

8  Lit,  "  not  high  (in  heaven)." 

9  The  Assyrian  renders  this  "  that  which  is  near." 


128  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

12  The  striker  of  mountains,   my  murderous  weapon  of 
ANU,  I  bear. 

13  The  striker  of  mountains,  the  fish  with  7  tails  that  is 
mine,  I  bear. 

14  The  terror  of  battle,  the  destroyer  of  rebel  lands  that 
is  mine,  I  bear. 

(OBVERSE.) 

15  The    defender   of    conquests,    the    great    sword,    the 
falchion  of  my  divinity,  I  bear. 

1 6  That  from  whose  hand  the  mountain  escapes  not,  the 
hand  of  the  hero  of  battle  which  is  mine,  I  bear. 

17  The  delight  of  heroes,  my  spear  of  battle,  (I  bear.) 

1 8  My  crown  which  strikes  against  men,  the  bow  of  the 
lightning,  (I  bear.) 

1 9  The  crusher  of  the  temples  of  rebel  lands,  my  club  and 
buckler  of  battle,  (I  bear.) 

20  The  lightning  of  battle,   my  weapon  of  50  heads,  (I 
bear.) 

21  The  thunderbolt  of  7  heads  like  the  huge  serpent  of 
7  heads,  (I  bear.) 

22  Like  the  serpent  that  beats  the  sea,  (which  attacks)  the 
foe  in  the  face, 

23  the  devastator   of  forceful   battle,   Lord    over   heaven 
and  earth,  the  weapon  of  (seven)  heads,  (I  bear.) 

24  That  which  maketh  the  light  come  forth  like  day,  the 
god  of  the  east,  my  burning  power,  (I  bear.) 

25  The  creator1  of  heaven  and  earth,  the  fire-god,   who 
has  not  his  rival,  (I  bear.) 

26  The   weapon,    which    (fills)    the    world    (with)    over- 
whelming fear, 

27  in  my  right  hand  mightily  made  to  go  ;    (the  weapon 
that)  of  gold  (and)  marble 

1  Or  more  strictly  "  the  establisher." 


AN   ACCADIAN    LITURGY.  1 29 

28  for  admiration  is  wrought,  my  god  who  ministers  to 
life,  (I  bear.) 

29  The  weapon,  which  like combats  the  rebel 

land,  the  weapon  of  50  heads,  (I  bear.) 

(Here  the  panegyric  of  the  lightning  is  broken  off  by  a 
fracture  of  the  tablet,  which  probably  did  not  contain  many 
lines  more.  It  is  possible  that  the  following  fragment, 
which  has  never  been  translated  before,  formed  part  of  the 
same  ritual.  The  numerous  lacunae  will  show  how  shock- 
ingly it  is  mutilated.) 

1  Below  in  the  abyss  the  forceful  multitudes  may  they 
sacrifice. 

2  The  overwhelming  fear  of  ANU  in  the  midst  of  heaven 
encircles  his  path. 

3  The  spirits  of  earth,  the  mighty  gods,  withstand  him 
not. 

4  The  King,  like  a  lightning-flash,  opened  (the  way). 

5  ADAR,  the  striker  of  the  fortresses  of  the  rebel  land, 
opened  (the  way). 

6  Like  the  streams  in  the  circle  of  heaven  I  besprinkled 
the  seed  of  men. 

7  His  marching  in  the  fealty  of  BEL  to  the  temple  / 
directed, 

8  (He  is)  the  hero  of  the  gods,  the  protector  of  mankind, 
far  (and)  near. 

9  To  the  men  of  Nipur  (he  gives  strength  ?). 

10  NEBO,  the  messenger  of  BEL 

1 1  To  my  Lord  ADAR 

12  O  my  Lord,  life  of  NEBO,    (breathe  thy  inspiration, 
incline)  thine  ear. 

13  O  ADAR,  hero,  crown  of  light,  (breathe)  thy  inspiration, 
(incline)  thine  ear. 

VOL.  in.  10 


130  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

14  The  overwhelming  fear  of  thee  may  the  sea  (know)  ; 
and  may  (thy)  sword  lay  low  the  fortresses. 

(OBVERSE.) 

15  Thy  setting  (is)  the  herald  of  his  rest  from  marching. 

1 6  In  thy  marching  MERODACH  *  (is)  at  his  rest. 

(The  next  two  lines  are  obliterated.) 

1 9  Thy  father  on  his  throne  thoti  dost  not  smite. 

20  BEL  on  his  throne  thou  dost  not  smite. 

2 1  The  spirits  of  earth  on  their  throne  may  he  consume. 

22  May  thy  father  into    the   hands  of  thy  valour  cause 
(them)  to  go  forth.2 

23  May  BEL  into  the  hands  of  thy  valour  cause  (them)  to 
go  forth. 

24  (The  King,  the  proclaimed  ?)  of  ANU,  the  firstborn  of 
the  gods. 

25  He  that  stands  before  BEL,  the  heart  of  the  life  of  the 
House  of  the  Beloved.3 

26  The    hero    of    the   mountain    (for   those   that)    die-in- 
multitudes. 

27     the  one  god,  he  will  not  urge. 

28  (The    hero  for  those   who   on   the   mountain)    die-iri- 
multitudes. 

29  ( the  one  god,  he  will  not)  urge. 

(Here  the  tablet  is  finally  broken  off.) 


1  The  Assyrian  version  has  here  "  the  god  of  the  Euphrates." 

2  The   Assyrian   text   seems   to  read   here   "  (with)    a   snare    may    he 
snare  for  thee." 

3  The  Assyrian  has  simply  "  of  the  high  places." 


ASSYRIAN  SACRED  POETRY. 


TRANSLATED     BY 


H.    F.    TALBOT,    F.R.S. 


following  translations  are  some  of  those 
which  I  published  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Society 
of  Biblical  Archeology  in  order  to  show  that  the 
Assyrians  had  a  firm  belief  in  the  immortality  of  the 
soul :  a  fact  which  was  previously  unknown. 

I  have  added  specimens  of  their  penitential  psalms, 
and  some  notices  of  their  numerous  superstitions,  such 
as  the  exorcism  of  evil  spirits,  the  use  of  magic  knots 
and  talismans,  the  belief  in  inherited  or  imputed  sins, 
and  in  the  great  degree  of  holiness  which  they  attri- 


132  RECORDS   OF  THE   PAST. 

buted  to  the  number  Seven.  In  some  of  these 
respects  we  may  evidently  see  how  great  an  influence 
was  exercised  on  the  mind  and  belief  of  the  Jews  by 
their  long  residence  at  Babylon. 


133 


ASSYRIAN     SACRED     POETRY. 


A  PRAYER  FOR  THE  KING.1 


1  "  Length  of  days 

2  long  lasting  years 

3  a  strong  sword 

4  a  long  life 

5  extended  years  of  glory 

6  pre-eminence  among  Kings 

7  grant  ye  to  the  King  my  Lord, 

8  who  has  given  such  gifts 

9  to  his  gods  ! 

10  The  bounds  vast  and  wide 

11  of  his  Empire 

1 2  and  of  his  Rule, 

13  may  he  enlarge  and  may  he  complete  ! 

14  Holding  over  all  Kings  supremacy 

15  and  royalty  and  empire 

1 6  may  he  attain  to  grey  hairs 

17  and  old  age  ! 

1 8  And  after  the  life  of  these  days, 

19  in  the   feasts  of  the    silver   mountain,2  the   heavenly 

Courts 

1  From  the  Transactions  of  the  Society  of  Biblical  Archaeology,  Vol.  i, 
p.  107.    The  original  is  in  Cuneiform  Inscriptions  of  Western  Asia,  Vol.  3, 
plate  66. 

2  The  Assyrian  Olympus.      The  epithet  "silver"  was  doubtless  sug- 
gested by  some  snowy  inaccessible  peak,  the  supposed  dwellingplace  of 
the  gods. 


134  RECORDS   OF   THE   PAST. 

20  the  abode  of  blessedness  : 

21  and  in  the  Light 

22  of  the  Happy  Fields, 

23  may  he  dwell  a  life 

24  eternal,  holy 

25  in  the  presence 

26  of  the  gods 

2  7  who  inhabit  Assyria  ! " 


A    SHORT     PRAYER    FOR    THE    SOUL    OF 
A   DYING   MAN.1 

Like  a  bird  may  it  fly  to  a  lofty  place  ! 

To  the  holy  hands  of  its  god,  may  it  ascend  ! 


ANOTHER.2 

1  The  man,  who  is  departing  in  glory 

2  may  his  soul  shine  radiant  as  brass. 

3  To  that  man 

4  may  the  Sun  give  life  ! 

5  and  MARDUK,  eldest  Son  of  heaven 

6  grant  him  an  abode  of  happiness  !3 


1  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Arch.,  Vol.  2,  p.  29.  2  Idem.,  p.  48. 

3  The  Assyrians  seem  to  have  imagined  the  soul  like  a  bird  with 
shining"  wings  rising  to  the  skies.  It  is  curious  that  they  considered 
polished  brass  to  be  more  beautiful  than  gold.  A  modern  poet  would 
have  written  differently. 


ASSYRIAN    SACRED    POETRY.  135 

THE   DEATH   OF   A   RIGHTEOUS   MAN.1 

1  Bind  the  sick  man  to  Heaven,  for  from  the  Earth  he  is 
being  torn  away  ! 

2  Of  the  brave  man  who  was  so  strong,  his  strength  has 
departed. 

3  Of  the  righteous  servant,  the  force  does  not  return. 

4  '  In  his  bodily  frame  he  lies  dangerously  ill. 

5  But  ISHTAR,  who  in  her  dwelling  is  grieved  concerning 
him 

6  descends  from  her  mountain,  unvisited  of  men. 

7  To  the  door  of  the  sick  man  she  comes. 

8  The  sick  man  listens  ! 

9  Who  is  there  ?    Who  comes  ? 

10  It  is  ISHTAR  daughter  of  the  Moon-god  SIN  : 

11  It  is  the  god  (....)  Son  of  BEL  : 

12  It  is  MARDUK,  Son  of  the  god  (.  .  .  .). 

13  They  approach  the  body  of  the  sick  man. 

(The  next  line,  14,  is  nearly  destroyed.) 

1 5  They  bring  a  khisibta  *  from  the  heavenly  treasury. 

1 6  They  bring  a  sisbu  from  their  lofty  storehouse  : 

17  into  the  precious  khisibta  they  pour  bright  liquor. 

1 8  That  righteous  man,  may  he  now  rise  on  high  ! 

1 9  May  he  shine  like  that  khisibta  ! 

20  May  he  be  bright  as  that  sisbu  ! 

2 1  Like  pure  silver  may  his  garment  be  shining  white  ! 

22  Like  brass  may  he  be  radiant  ! 

23  To  the  Sun,  greatest  of  the  gods,  may  he  ascend  ! 

24  And  may  the  Sun,  greatest  of  the  gods,  receive  his 
soul  into  his  holy  hands  !3 

1  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Arch.,  Vol.  2,  p.  31. 

2  Probably  a  cup  or  drinking"  vessel. 

3  There  is  a  fine  inscription  not  yet  fully  translated,  describing-  the  soul 
in  heaven,  clothed  in  a  white  radiant  garment,  seated  in  the  company  of 
the  blessed,  and  fed  by  the  gods  themselves  with  celestial  food. 


136  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 


PENITENTIAL   PSALMS. 

(These  lamentations  seem  frequently  to  be  incoherent. 
A  few  specimens  are  taken  from  the  same  work  as  the 
preceding.1) 

0  my  Lord  !  my  sins  are  many,  my  trespasses  are  great ; 
and  the  wrath  of  the  gods  has  plagued  me  with  disease 
and  with  sickness  and  sorrow. 

1  fainted  :  but  no  one  stretched  forth  his  hand  ! 
I  groaned :  but  no  one  drew  nigh  ! 

I  cried  aloud  :  but  no  one  heard  ! 
O  Lord  !  do  not  abandon  thy  servant ! 
In  the  waters  of  the  great  storm,  seize  his  hand  ! 
The  sins  which  he  has  committed,  turn  thou  to  righteous- 
ness ! 

ELSEWHERE   WE    FIND. 

1  O  my  god  !   my  sins  are  seven  times  seven  ! 

2  O  my  goddess  !  my  sins  are  seven  times  seven  ! 

(And  then  a  prayer  follows,  that  those  sins  may  be  par- 
doned as  a  father  and  mother  would  pardon  them  !) 


AN   ADDRESS   TO   SOME   DEITY. 

In  heaven  who  is  great  ?    Thou  alone  art  great ! 

On  earth  who  is  great  ?    Thou  alone  art  great ! 

When    thy    voice    resounds    in    heaven,    the   gods   fall 

prostrate  ! 
When  thy  voice  resounds   on   earth,  the  genii  kiss  the 

dust  ! 

1  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Arch.,  Vol.  2,  p.  60. 


ASSYRIAN    SACRED    POETRY.  137 

ELSEWHERE.1 

O  Thou ;    thy   words  who  can  resist  ?     who   can  rival 

them? 
Among  the  gods  thy  brothers,  thou  hast  no  equal  ! 

A     PRAYER. " 

The  god  my  creator,  may  he  stand  by  my  side  ! 
Keep  thou  the  door  of  my  lips  !    guard  thou  my  hands, 
O  Lord  of  light  ! 


ODE   TO   FIRE. 

(The  original  text  of  this  will  be  found  in  4  R  14  1.  6  which 
is  a  lithographic  copy  of  the  tablet  K  44.  A  part  of  it  was 
translated  some  years  ago  from  a  photograph  of  that  tablet, 
see  No.  430  of  my  Glossary. 

Very  few  Assyrian  odes  are  so  simple  and  intelligible  as 
this  is :  unfortunately  most  of  them  are  mystical  and  hard 
of  interpretation.) 

1  O  FIRE,  great  Lord,  who  art  the  most  exalted  in  the 
world, 

2  noble  Son  of  heaven,  who  art  the  most  exalted  in  the 
world, 

3  O  FIRE,  with  thy  bright  flame 

4  in  the  dark  house  thou  dost  cause  light. 

5  Of  all  things  that  can  be  named,  Thou  dost  form  the 
fabric  ! 

6  Of  bronze  and  of  lead,  Thou  art  the  melter  ! 

1  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Arch.,  Vol.  2,  p.  51.  *  Idem. 


138  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

7  Of  silver  and  of  gold,  Thou  art  the  refiner  ! 

8  Of Thou  art  the  purifier  ! 

9  Of  the  wicked  man  in  the  night  time  Thou  dost  repel 
the  assault  ! 

10     But  the  man  who  serves  his  god,  Thou  wilt  give  him 
light  for  his  actions  ! 


ASSYRIAN 
TALISMANS      AND      EXORCISMS. 


TRANSLATED    BY 

H.     F.     TALBOT,     F.R.S. 


DEMONIACAL  POSSESSION  AND  EXORCISM. 

Diseases  were  attributed  to  the  influence  of  Evil  Spirits. 
Exorcisms  were  used  to  drive  away  those  tormentors :  and 
this  seems  to  have  been  the  sole  remedy  employed,  for  I 
believe  that  no  mention  has  been  found  of  medicine. 

This  is  a  very  frequent  subject  of  the  tablets.1  One  of 
them  says  of  a  sick  man  : 

1  "  May  the  goddess  .... 

2  wife  of  the  god 

3  turn  his  face  in  another  direction  ; 

4  that  the  evil  spirit  may  come  out  of  him 

5  and  be  thrust  aside,  and  that  Good  Spirits  and  Good 

Powers 

6  may  dwell  in  his  body  !  " 

Sometimes  divine  images  were  brought  into  the  chamber, 
and  written  texts  taken  from  holy  books  were  placed  on  the 
walls  and  bound  around  the  sick  man's  brows.  If  these 
failed  recourse  was  had  to  the  influence  of  the  mamit, 
which  the  evil  powers  were  unable  to  resist.  On  a  tablet 

1  Taken  from  2  R  plate  18. 


140  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

2  R  p.  17  the  following  is  found,  written  in  the  Accadian 
language  only,  the  Assyrian  version  being  broken  off. 

1  Take  a  white  cloth.     In  it  place  the  mamit, 

2  in  the  sick  man's  right  hand. 

3  And  take  a  black  cloth  : 

4  wrap  it  round  his  left  hand. 

5  Then  all  the  evil  spirits.1 

6  and  the  sins  which  he  has  committed 

7  shall  quit  their  hold  of  him, 

8  and  shall  never  return2 

The  symbolism  of  the  black  cloth  in  the  left  hand  seems 
evident.  The  dying  man  repudiates  all  his  former  evil 
deeds.  And  he  puts  his  trust  in  holiness,  symbolised  by  the 
white  cloth  in  his  right  hand.  Then  follow  some  obscure 
lines  about  the  spirits 

Their  heads  shall  remove  from  his  head  : 

their  hands  shall  let  go  his  hands  : 

their  feet  shall  depart  from  his  feet : 

which  perhaps  may  be  explained  thus — we  learn,  from 
another  tablet,  that  the  various  classes  of  evil  spirits  troubled 
different  parts  of  the  body.  Some  injured  the  head,  some 
the  hands  and  feet,  etc.,  etc.  Therefore  the  passage  before 
us  may  mean  :  "  The  spirits  whose  power  is  over  the  hand, 
shall  loose  their  hands  from  his,"  etc.,  etc.  But  I  can  offer 
no  decided  opinion  on  such  obscure  points  of  their 
superstition. 


INHERITED    OR    IMPUTED    SINS. 

These  were  supposed  to  pursue  a  sick  man  and  torment  hinv 
i     The  mamit  for  him  reveal !  The  mamit  for  him  unfold  I4 

1  A  long  list  of  them  is  given. 

2  Trans.'  Soc.  Bib.  Arch.,  Vol.  2,  p.  56. 

3  See  Cuneiform  Inscriptions  of  Western  Asia,  Vol.  4,  p.  7. 

4  A  holy  object,  the  nature  of  which  has  not  been  ascertained. 


TALISMANS    AND    EXORCISMS.  141 

2  Against  the  evil  spirit,  disturber  of  his  body  ! 

3  Whether  it  be  the  sin  of  his  father  : 

4  or  whether  it  be  the  sin  of  his  mother  : 

5  or  whether  it  be  the  sin  of  his  elder  brother : 

6  or  whether  it  be  the  sin  of  some  one  who  is  unknown  I1 


MAGIC    KNOTS. 

Justin  Martyr,  speaking  of  the  Jewish  exorcists,  says 
"They  use  magic  ties  or  knots."  A  similar  usage  prevailed 
among  the  Babylonians.2  The  god  Marduk  wishes  to 
soothe  the  last  moments  of  a  dying  man.  His  father  Hea 
says  :  Go  my  son  ! 

1  Take  a  woman's  linen  kerchief 

2  bind  it  round  thy  right  hand  !   loose  it  from  the  left 
hand! 

3  Knot  it  with  seven  knots  :  do  so  twice  : 

4  Sprinkle  it  with  bright  wine: 

5  bind  it  round  the  head  of  the  sick  man  : 

6  bind  it  round  his  hands  and  feet,  like  manacles  and 
fetters. 

7  Sit  down  on  his  bed  : 

8  sprinkle  holy  water  over  him. 

9  He  shall  hear  the  voice  of  HEA, 

10  DAVKiNA3  shall  protect  him  ! 

1 1  And  MARDUK,  Eldest  Son  of  heaven,  shall  find  him  a 
happy  habitation  !4 

1  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Arch.,  Vol.  2,  p.  58. 
3  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Arch.,  Vol.  2,  p.  54. 

3  One  of  the  principal  goddesses,  the  wife  of  the  god  Hea. 

4  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Arch.,  Vol.  2,  p.  54. 


142  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

TALISMANS. 

To  cure  diseases  they  seem  to  have  relied  wholly  on 
charms  and  incantations. 

The  first  step  was  to  guard  the  entrance  to  the  sick  man's 
chamber. 

A  tablet  says  : 

"  That  nothing  evil  may  enter,  place  at  the  door  the  god 
(....)  and  the  god  (.  .  .  .)." 

That  is  to  say,  their  images.  I  believe  these  were  little 
figures  of  the  gods,  brought  by  the  priests,  perhaps  a  sort  of 
Teraphim. 

The  following  line  is  more  explicit  : 

"  Place  the  guardian  statues  of  HEA  and  MARDUK  at  the 
door,  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left." 

But  they  added  to  this  another  kind  of  protection  : 

1  Right  and  left  of  the  threshold  of  the  door,  spread  out 
holy  texts  and  sentences. 

2  Place  on  the  statues  texts  bound  around  them. 
These  must  have  been  long  strips  like  ribbons  of  parch- 
ment or  papyrus.     The  following  line  is  still  clearer : 

"  In  the  night  time  bind  around  the  sick  man's  head  a 
sentence  taken  from  a  good  book."1 

1  Similar  to  these  were  the  phylacteries  of  the  Jews,  which  were  con- 
sidered to  be  protections  from  all  evil.  Schleusner  in  his  Lexicon  of  the 
New  Testament  says  that  they  were  "  Strips  of  parchment  on  which  were 
written  various  portions  of  the  Mosaic  law,  for  the  Jews  believed  that  these 
ligaments  had  power  to  avert  every  kind  of  evil,  I'ut  especially  to  drive  away 
demons,  as  appears  from  the  Targum  on  the  Canticles,  etc.,  etc.  We  see 
that  the  Babylonian  precept  was  to  bind  holy  sentences  '•'  around  the 
head"  and  others  "  right  and  left  of  the  threshold  of  the  door." 

Cf.  Deut.  xi.  18 :  "  Ye  shall  lay  up  these  my  words  in  your  heart,  and  in 
your  soul,  and  bind  them  for  a  sign  upon  your  hand,  and  as  frontlets 
between  your  eyes. 

"  And  thou  shalt  write  them  upon  the  door  posts  of  thine  house,  and 
upon  thy  gates." 


DEMONIACAL    POSSESSION    AND    EXORCISM.  143 

HOLINESS   OF  THE   NUMBER   SEVEN. 

Innumerable  are  the  evidences  of  this  opinion  which  are 
found  on  the  tablets.  Two  or  three  instances  may  suffice 
here  : 

THE    SONG   OF   THE    SEVEN    SPIRITS.1 

1  They  are  seven  !  they  are  seven  ! 

2  In  the  depths  of  ocean  they  are  seven  ! 

3  In  the  heights  of  heaven  they  are  seven  ! 

4  In  the  ocean  stream  in  a  Palace  they  were  born. 

5  Male  they  are  not :  female  they  are  not ! 

6  Wives  they  have  not  !  Children  are  not  born  to  them  ! 

7  Rule  they  have  not  !  Government  they  know  not  ! 

8  Prayers  they  hear  not ! 

9  They  are  seven,  and  they  are  seven  !  Twice  over  they 
are  seven  ! 

This  wild  chant  touches  one  of  the  deepest  chords  of 
their  religious  feeling.  They  held  that  seven  evil  spirits  at 
once  might  enter  into  a  man  :  there  are  frequent  allusions  to 
them,  and  to  their  expulsion,  on  the  tablets.  One  runs 
thus  : 

1  The  god  (....)  shall  stand  by  his  bedside  : 

2  Those  seven  evil  spirits  he  shall  root  out,  and  shall 
expel  them  from  his  body. 

3  And  those  seven  shall  never  return  to  the  sick  man 
again ! 

1  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Arch.,  Vol.  2,  p.  58. 


144  RECORDS    OF    THE   PAST. 

But  sometimes  this  belief  attained  the  grandeur  of  Epic 
poetry.  There  is  a  fine  tale  on  one  of  the  tablets1  of 
the  seven  evil  spirits  assaulting  heaven,  and  the  gods 
alarmed  standing  upon  the  defensive,  no  doubt  successfully, 
but  unluckily  the  conclusion  of  the  story  is  broken  off. 

1   Cuneiform  Inscriptions  of  Western  Asia,  Vol.  4,  plate  5. 


ANCIENT    BABYLONIAN    CHARMS. 


TRANSLATED    BY 

REV.    A.    H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 


HTHE  following  are  specimens  of  the  imprecatory 
charms  with  which  the  ancient  Babylonian  literature 
abounded,  and  which  were  supposed  to  be  the  most 
potent  means  in  the  world  for  producing  mischief. 
Some  examples  are  given  in  the  first  volume  of  the 
Records  of  the  Past,  pp.  131-135  of  the  exorcisms 
used  to  avert  the  consequences  of  such  enchantments. 
The  original  Accadian  text  is  preserved  in  the  first 
column  with  an  interlinear  Assyrian  translation  :  the 
short  paragraphs  in  Col.  iii.  also  give  the  Accadian 
original ;  but  elsewhere  the  Assyrian  scribe  has  con- 
tented himself  with  the  Assyrian  rendering  alone. 
The  charms  are  rhythmic,  and  illustrate  the  rude 

parallelism  of  Accadian  poetry.     The  Assyrian  trans- 
VOL.  in.  11 


146  RECORDS    OF   THE   PAST. 

lations  were  probably  made  for  the  library  of  Sargon 
of  Agane,  an  ancient  Babylonian  monarch  who  reigned 
not  later  than  the  i6th  century  B.C.  ;  but  the  copy  we 
possess  was  made  from  the  old  tablets  by  the  scribes 
of  Assur-bani-pal.  The  larger  part  of  the  first 
column  has  already  been  translated  by  M.  Francois 
Lenormant  in  La  Magie  chcz  les  C/ialdeens,  p.  59. 
The  tablet  on  which  the  inscription  occurs  is  marked 
K  65,  in  the  British  Museum  Collection  and  will  be 
published  in  the  Cuneiform  Inscriptions  of  Western 
Asia,  Vol.  iv.,  pi.  7,  8. 


147 


ANCIENT   BABYLONIAN   CHARMS. 


COLUMN    I. 

1  The    beginning1 — The   baneful   charm2   like   an    evil 
demon  acts  against3  the  man. 

2  The  voice  that  defiles  acts  upon  him. 

3  The  maleficent  voice  acts  upon  him. 

4  The  baneful  charm  is  a  spell  that  originates  sickness.4 

5  This  man  the  baneful  charm  strangles  like  a  lamb. 

6  '  His  god  in  his  flesh  makes  the  wound. 

7  His  goddess  mutual  enmity  brings  down. 

8  The  voice  that  defies  like  a  hyaena  covers  him  and 
subjugates  him. 

9  MERODACH  s  favors  him  ;  and 

10  to  his  father  HEA  into  the  house  he  enters  and  cries  : 

11  "O  my  father,  the  baneful  charm  like  an  evil  demon 
acts  against  .the  man." 

12  To  the  injured  (man)  he  (HEA)  speaks  thus  : 

13  "  (A  number)  make  :  this  man  is  unwitting  :    by  means 
of  the  number  he  enslaves  thee." 

14  (To)  his  son  MERODACH  he  replies  6 

1  The  Accadian  word  is  translated  by  the  Assyrian  siptu  "  lip "  and 
may  be  translated  "beginning-  "  or  "  fresh  paragraph." 

2  In  the  Assyrian  version  "  curse." 

3  In  the  Assyrian  "  goes  against." 

4  In  the  Assyrian  "  (is)  the  cause  of  sickness." 

5  The  Accadian  god  identified  with  Merodach  by  the  Assyrian  trans- 
lator was  Silik-muLu-khi  "  the  protector  of  the  city  who  benefits  mankind." 
He  was  regarded  as  the  son  of  Hea. 

6  The  verbs  throughout  are  in  the  aorist,  but  the  sense  of  the  original 
is  better  expressed  in  English  by  the  present  than  the  past  tense. 


148  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

15  "  My  son,  the  number  thou  knowest  not ;  the  number 
let  me  fix  for  thee. 

1 6  MERODACH,  the  number  thou  knowest  not ;  the  number 
let  me  fix  for  thee. 

17  What  I  know  thou  knowest. 

1 8  Go,  my  son  MERODACH. 

19     with  noble  hand  seize  him,  and 

20  his  enchantment  explain  and   his  enchantment   make 
known. 

21  Evil  (is  to)  the  substance  of  his  body,1 

22  whether  (it  be)  the  curse  of  his  father, 

23  or  the  curse  of  his  mother, 

24  or  the  curse  of  his  elder  brother, 

25  or  the  bewitching  curse  of  an  unknown  man." 

26  Spoken  (is)  the  enchantment  by  the  lips  of  HEA. 

27  Like  a  signet  may  he2  be  brought  near. 

28  Like  garden-herbs  may  he  be  destroyed. 

29  Like  a  weed  may  he  be  gathered-for-sale, 

30  (This)  enchantment  may  the  spirit  of  heaven  remember, 
may  the  spirit  of  earth  remember. 


FRESH  PARAGRAPH. 

31  Like  this  signet  he3  shall  be  cut,  and  the  sorcerer 

32  the  consuming  fire-god  shall  consume. 

33  By  written-spells  he  shall  not  be  delivered. 

34  By  curses  and  poisons  he  shall  not  be  moved. 

35  His  property  (and)  ground  he  shall  not  take. 

36  His  corn  shall  not  be  high  and  the  sun  shall  not  re- 
member (him). 


That  is,  the  sorcerer's.  2  The  sorcerer. 

3  The  sorcerer. 


ANCIENT    BABYLONIAN    CHARMS.  149 


COLUMN    II. 

1  On  the  festival  of  the  god,  the  king  unconquerable, 

2  may  the  man  (by)  the  enchantment,  (with)  eldest  son 
(and)  wife, 

3  (by)  sickness,  the  loss  of  the  bliss  of  prosperity,  of  joy 
(and)  of  gladness, 

4  (by)  the  sickness  which  exists  in  a  man's  skin,  a  man's 
flesh  (and)  a  man's  entrails, 

5  like  this  signet  be  brought  near  and 

6  on  that  day  may  the  consuming  fire-god  consume ; 

7  may  the  enchantment  go  forth  and  to  (its)  dwelling- 
place  betake  itself. 


FRESH  PARAGRAPH. 

8  Like  this  vineyard  he  shall  be  cut  off,  and  the  sorcerer 

9  the  consuming  fire-god  shall  consume. 

10  Despite  the  holidays  of  &  plague  that  returns  not, 

1 1  despite  the  shrine  of  the  god,  the  king  unconquerable, 

1 2  may  the  man,  (by)  the  enchantment,  (with)  eldest  son 
(and)  wife, 

13  (by)  sickness,  the  loss  of  the  bliss  of  prosperity  of  joy 
(and)  of  gladness, 

14  (by)  the  sickness  which  exists  in  a  man's  skin,  a  man's 
flesh,  a  man's  entrails, 

15  like  this  garden-stuff  be  rooted  out,  and 

1 6  on  that  day  may  the  consuming  fire-god  consume. 

1 7  May  the  enchantment  go  forth  and  to  (its)  dwelling- 
place  betake  itself. 


FRESH  PARAGRAPH. 

1 8     Like  this  weed  he  shall  be  gathered  for  sale,  and  the 


sorcerer 


150  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

19  the  consuming  fire-god  shall  consume. 

20  Before  him,  despite  his  blessedness  that  is  not, 

2 1  despite  the  canopy  of  a  covering  that  departs  not, 

22  may  the  man  (by)  the  enchantment,  (with)  eldest  son 
(and)  wife, 

23  (by)  sickness,  the  loss  of  the  bliss  of  prosperity,  of  joy 
(and)  of  gladness, 

24  (by)  the  sickness  which  exists  in  a  man's  skin,  a  man's 
flesh,  a  man's  entrails, 

25  like  this  weed  be  plucked,  and 

26  on  that  day  may  the  consuming  fire -god  consume. 

27  May  the  enchantment  go  forth  and  to   (its)  dwelling- 
place  betake  itself. 

FRESH  PARAGRAPH. 

28  Like  this  thread  he  shall  be  stretched,  and  the  sorcerer 

29  the  consuming  fire-god  shall  consume. 

30  Despite  his  adoration  that  is  not, 

3 1  despite  the  clothing  of  the  god,  the  King  unconquerable, 

32  may  the  man,  (through)  the  enchantment,  (with)  eldest 
son  (and)  wife, 

33  (by)  sickness,  the  loss  of  the  bliss  of  prosperity,  of  joy 
(and)  of  gladness, 

34  (by)  the  sickness  which  exists  in  a  man's  skin,  a  man's 
flesh,  a  man's  entrails, 

35  like  this  thread  be  stretched,  and 

36  on  that  day  may  the  consuming  fire-god  consume. 

37  May  the  enchantment  go  forth  and  to  (its)  dwelling- 
place  betake  itself. 


FRESH  PARAGRAPH. 

38  Like  this  goat's-hair  cloth  he  shall  be  stretched,  and 
the  sorcerer 

39  the  consuming  fire -god  shall  consume. 


ANCIENT    BABYLONIAN    CHARMS.  151 

40  Despite  the  goat's-hair  that  is  not, 

41  despite  the  canopy  of  the  covering  (that  departs  not), 

42  may  the  man  (through^)  the  enchantment,  (with)  eldest 
son  (and)  wife, 

43  (by)  sickness,  the  loss  of  the  bliss  of  prosperity,  of  joy 
(and)  of  gladness, 

44  (by)  the  sickness  which  exists  in  a  man's  skin,  a  man's 
flesh,  a  man's  entrails, 

45  like  this  goat's-hair  cloth  be  stretched,  and 

46  on   that   day  the   man  may   the    consuming    fire -god 
consume. 

47  May  the  enchantment  go  forth  and  to  (its)  dwelling- 
place  betake  itself. 


FRESH  PARAGRAPH. 

48  Like  these  boards  he  shall  be  stretched,  and  the  sorcerer 

49  the  consuming  fire-god  shall  consume. 

50  O  son  of  the  macebearer,  despite  produce  unproduced, 

51  despite   the   clothing   of  the   god,    the    King    uncon- 
querable, 

52  may  the  man  (by)  the  enchantment,  (with)  eldest  son 
and  wife, 

53  (by)  sickness,  the  loss  of  prosperity,  of  joy  (and)  of 
gladness, 

54  (by)  the  sickness  which  exists  in  a  man's  skin,  a  man's 
flesh,  a  man's  entrails, 

55  like  these  boards  be  stretched,  and 

56  on  that  day  may  the  consuming  fire-god  consume. 

57  May  the   enchantment  go  forth  and  to  (its)  dwelling- 
place  betake  itself. 


152  RECORDS    OF   THE   PAST. 

COLUMN      III. 

The  first  part  of  Column  III.  is  mutilated.    It  becomes  legible 
in  the  middle  of  a  list  of  magical  formulae. 
30     The  chiefest  talisman,  the  mighty  talisman,  the  engraved 

talisman,  the  talisman  is  the  binder,  with  enchantment. 


3 1     The  repetition  of  the  enchantment  (is)  baneful  to  man. 


32     The  curses  of  the  gods. 


33     ....  the  binder  with  enchantment. 


34     (With  enchantment)  his  hands  (and)  his  feet  he  binds. 


35     MERODACH,  the  son  of  HEA,  the  prince,  with  his  holy 
hands  cuts  the  knots. 


36  May  the  enchantment  cause  this  talisman  to  the  desert 
among  the  wild  beasts  to  go  forth. 

37  May  the  baneful  enchantment  seize  upon  others. 


38     May  this  man  rest  (and)  open  (his  eyes). 


39     To  the  blessed  hand  of  his  god  may  he  be  committed. 


40     Conclusion  of  the  formulae  for  averting  sorcery. 


FRESH  PARAGRAPH. 

41  For  the  raising  of  the  mighty  foundation  thus  have  I 
burned  up  straight, 

42  like  fire  have  I  burned  up  (and)  have  delivered  the 
oracle.1 

1  Or,  "have  laid  the  witchcraft." 


ANCIENT    BABYLONIAN    CHARMS.  153 


COLUMN    IV. 

1  The  noble  cupbearer  of  HEA,  the  scribe  of  MERODACH 
(am)  I. 

2  Like  fire  have  I  blazed  (and)  I  rejoice ; ' 

3  (like)  fire  have  I  burned  (and)  I  grow ; 

4  the  corn  I  purify  and  make  heavy. 

5  Like  fire  have  I  blazed  (and)  will  rejoice ; 

6  (like)  fire  have  I  burned  (and)  will  grow ; 

7  the  corn  will  I  purify  and  make  heavy. 

8  O  nadir  (and)  zenith,  the  light  of  god  and  man, 

9  may  the  store  he  collected  be  delivered. 

10     May  the  store  of  (his)  heart  whoever  he  be,  ye  his  god 

and  his  goddess,  be  delivered. 
i  i     May  his  gate  be  kept  fast.     On  that  day 
1 2     may  they  enrich  him,  may  they  deliver  him. 


FRESH  PARAGRAPH. 

13  May  the  rejoicing2  of  the  warrior  fire-god 

14  rejoice  with  thee.     May  lands  and  rivers 

15  rejoice  with  thee.     May  Tigris  and  (Euphrates) 

1 6  rejoice  with  thee.     May  the  seas  and  (the  ocean) 

17  rejoice  with  thee.      May  the  forest,   the  daughter  of 
the  gods, 

1 8  rejoice  with  thee.      May  all  the  productions  (of  the 
earth) 

19  rejoice  with  thee.     May  the  hearts  of  my  god  and  my 
goddess,  well-feasted, 

20  rejoice  with  thee.     May  the  hearts  of  the  god  and  the 
goddess  of  the  city,  well-feasted,  (rejoice  with  thee). 

1  Or,  "  rest." 

2  The  words  translated  "rejoicing"   and    "rejoice"   properly  signify 
"  rest,"  and  that  may  be  their  meaning  here. 


154  RECORDS    OF   THE   PAST. 

2 1     On  that  day  from  the  curse  may  my  heart,  O  my  god 

and  my  goddess,  be  delivered, 
2  2     and  may  the  enchantment  go  forth  from  my  body. 

23  When  the  doom  comes  upon  thee, 

24  and  from  the  fulfilment  thou  protectest  thyself, 

25  the  doom  when  fulfilled  cut  thou  off. 


26     (The  tablet)  beginning  : —  .  .   . 

Colophon. 

Tablet  (copied  from) 

the  old  (tablets  of  Chaldea). 

Country  of  (ASSUR-BANI-PAL) 

King  of  (Assyria). 


LISTS    OF    FURTHER    TEXTS    FOR    TRANSLATION. 


ASSYRIAN. 

ARRANGED    BY 

GEORGE     SMITH. 


Works  on  History  and  Chronology. 

Eponym  Canon  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  i). 
Historical  Canon  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  II,  p.  52). 

Historical. 

Legends  of  Izdubar  (texts  unpublished).     (Deluge  Tablets.) 
Inscription  of  Sargon  I  king  of  Babylonia  (dm.  Ins.,  Vol. 

Ill,  p.  4). 
Inscription  of  Sargon  and  his  son  Naram-sin  (Trans.  Soc. 

Bib.  Ar.,  pp.  49-51). 
Various  Inscriptions  of  Kuder-mabuk  and  Rim-sin  his  son 

(see  Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Ar.,  p.  42,  and  notes). 
Early  Babylonian  Dated  Tablets  (texts  unpublished). 
Brick  of  Samsi-vul  I  ruler  of  Assyria  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  i,  p.  6). 
Brick  of  Kara-indas  king  of  Babylon  (Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Ar. 

p.  68). 
Inscriptions  of  Burna-buriyas  king  of  Babylon  (dm.  Ins., 

Vol.  I,  p.  4,  etc). 
Inscriptions   of  Kuri-galzu   king   of  Babylon    (Cun.    Ins., 

Vol.  I,  p.  4,  etc.). 
Inscriptions  of  Pudil  king  of  Assyria  (Revue  Ar.,  Nov.,  1869). 


156  RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

Monolith  of  Maruduk-bal-idina  I  king  of  Babylonia  (text, 

unpublished). 

Tablet  of  Vul-nirari  I  king  of  Assyria  (text  unpublished). 
Small  Inscriptions  of  Vul-nirari  (various). 
Inscriptions  of  Shalmaneser  I  king  of  Assyria  (various). 
Inscriptions   of  Tugulti-ninip  king  of  Assyria  (various  un- 
published; one  Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  4). 
Inscriptions  of  Assur-risilim,   king  of  Assyria    (Cun.    Ins., 

Vol.  Ill,  p.  3). 
Brick  and  Cone  Inscriptions  of  Vul-bal-idina  king  of  Babylon 

(various). 

Inscriptions  of  Nebuchadnezzar  I  king  of  Babylonia  (un- 
published). 
Cylinder  of  Tiglath-Pileser  I  king  of  Assyria   (Cun.    Ins., 

Vol.  I,  pp.  9-16). 

Other  fragments  of  Tiglath-Pileser  (various). 
Contracts  dated  in  the  reign  of  Maruduk-nadin-ahi  king  of 

Babylon  (various). 
Inscriptions  of  Assur-bel-kala  king  of  Assyria  (Cun.  Ins., 

Vol.  I,  p.  6). 
Inscriptions  of  Samsivul    IV  king  of  Assyria  (Cun.    Ins., 

Vol.  Ill,  p.  3). 
Contract  dated  in  the  reign  of  Simma-sihu  king  of  Babylon 

(Layard's  Ins.,  p.  53). 

Other  Inscriptions  of  Assur-nasir-pal  (various). 
Bull  Inscription  of  Shalmaneser  1 1  (Layard's  Ins.,  p.  12,  etc.). 
Black  Obelisk  of  Shalmaneser  II  (Layard's  Ins.,  p.  87). 
Inscriptions   of  Vul-nirari  III  king  of  Assyria  (Cun.  Ins., 

Vol.  I.  p.  35). 
Fragments  of  Annals  of  Tiglath-Pileser  II  king  of  Assyria 

(various). 
Fragments  of  Inscriptions  Shalmaneser  IV  king  of  Assyria 

(various). 
Inscription  of  the  Second  Year  of  Sargon  (unpublished). 


LISTS    OF    FURTHER   TEXTS.  157 

Nimrud  Inscription  of  Sargon  (Layard's  Ins.,  p.  33). 

Cylinder  (Barrel)  of  Sargon  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  I,  p.  36). 

Prism  of  Sargon  (unpublished). 

Fasti  of  Sargon  (Botta). 

Annals  of  Sargon  (Botta). 

Other  Inscriptions  of  Sargon  (various). 

Tablet  of  Kalah  Shergat. 

Nebbi  Yunas  Tablet  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  43,  44). 

Bull  Inscriptions  of  Sennacherib  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  12 

and  13). 

Other  Inscriptions  of  Sennacherib  (various). 
Various    other    Inscriptions    of    Esarhaddon    (Cun.    Ins., 

Vol.  I,  etc.). 
Portions  of  Cylinders  B,   C,   D,  and  E   of  Assurbanipal 

(Smith's  Assurbanipal). 

Various  Historical  Tablets  of  Assurbanipal  (Smith's  Assur- 
banipal). 

Hunting  Texts  of  Assurbanipal  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  I,  p.  7). 
Inscriptions  of  Assur-ebel-ili  king  of  Assyria  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vols. 

I  and  III). 
Cylinder  of  Bel-zakir-iskun  king  of  Assyria  (Cun.  Ins.  Vol.  I. 

p.  8). 

Inscription  of  Nabopalassar  king  of  Babylonia  (unpublished). 
Inscription  (India  House)  of  Nebuchadnezzar  (Cun.  Ins., 

Vol.  I,  pp.  53  to  64). 
Senkereh  Cylinder  of  Nebuchadnezzar  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  I, 

P-  51)- 
Borsippa  Cylinder  of  Nebuchadnezzar  (Cun.   Ins.,  Vol.  I, 

P-  51)- 

Various  other  texts  of  Nebuchadnezzar. 
Tablet   dated    in   the   reign   of  Evil    Merodach    king   of 

Babylon. 
Cylinder  of  Nergal-shar-ezer  king  of  Babylon  (Cun.  Ins., 

Vol.  I,  p.  67). 


158  RECORDS    OF   THE    PAST. 

Cylinders  of  Nabonedus  king  of  Babylon  (Cun.  Ins.,  Vol.  I, 

pp.  68,  69). 

Other  texts  of  Nabonedus  (various). 
Brick  of  Cyrus  king  of  Babylon  (Trans.  Soc.  Bib.  Ar.,  Vol.  II, 

Pt.  i). 

Inscription  on  Tomb  of  Cyrus. 

Dated  Tablets  in  reign  of  Cambyses  (various). 

Inscriptions  of  Darius. 

Inscriptions  of  Xerxes  king  of  Persia. 

Inscriptions  of  Artaxerxes  king  of  Persia. 

Later  Inscriptions  of  Persian,  Greek,  and  Parthian  periods. 

Mythology  and  Religion  (mostly  unpublished). 

History  of  the  Evil  Spirits. 

Hymn  to  the  Moon  God. 

Hymns  to  Ninip. 

The  War  of  the  Gods. 

Prayers  of  Amil-urgal. 

Prayer  against  Eclipses. 

Various  other  Prayers. 

Various  Mythological  Stories  and  Invocations. 

Tablets  against  Witchcraft. 

Tablet  on  Human  Sacrifice. 

Assyrian  Sacred  Poetry. 

Fable  (unpublished ). 
The  Horse  and  the  Ox. 

Government  (mostly  unpublished}. 

Tablet  with  Advice  and  Cautions  to  Kings. 

Various  Reports  and  Despatches. 

Various  Tablets  with  Laws  and  Reports  of  Law  Cases. 


LISTS    OF    FURTHER   TEXTS.  159 

Private  Life. 

Further  Deeds  of  Sale  and  Barter. 
Further  Loan  Tablets. 
Private  Letters. 
Lists  of  Property. 

Science,  etc.  (partly  unpublished}. 
Geographical  Lists. 

Lists  of  Animals  and  Birds  (Delitzsch). 
Lists  of  Minerals  and  their  uses. 
Lists  of  Wooden  Objects. 
Grammatical  Tablets  (a  selection  from). 
Mathematical  Tablets. 

Astrology  and  Astronomy. 

Further  Selections  from  the  great  Chaldean  Work  on  As- 
trology. 

Further  Selections  from  Astronomical  and  Astrological 
Reports. 

A  Selection  of  Omens  from  Terrestrial  Objects  and  Events.1 


PHCENICIAN 

Sarcophagus  of  Ashmunazer    (Due   de    Luynes,    Memoire, 

1856). 

Marseilles  Inscription  (Judas,  1857). 
The  Moabite  Stone  (Ginsburg,  1871). 
The  Melitensis  Quinta. 
Selected  Mortuary  Inscriptions. 

1  Selections  of  these  only  printed  in  Vol.  I. 


Will  be  Ready,  July,  1875. 

RECORDS     OF    THE     PAST, 

VOL.    IV.,    EGYPTIAN   TEXTS. 

WILL    CONTAIN    AMONG    OTHERS    THE    FOLLOWING 
TRANSLATIONS  : 

The  Possessed  Princess.     Tablet  of  Rameses  XII. 

The  Tablet  of  400  Years,  XlXth  Dynasty. 

Annals  of  Thothmes  III.     Inscription  of  Anebni. 

Inscription  of  Aahmes. 

Obelisk  of  the  Lateran. 

The  Invasion  of  Egypt  by  the  Libyans  and  Greeks. 

The  Rosetta  Stone.— 

By  S.  BIRCH,  LL.D. 
The  Tablet  of  Ahmes. 
Inscription  of  Queen  Madsenen. — 

By  PAUL  PIERRET. 

The  Book  of  the  Respirations. — 

By  P.  J.  DE  HORRACK. 
Hymn  to  the  Nile. — 

By  REV.  F.  C.  COOK,  M.A.,  CANON  OF  EXETER. 

The  Tale  of  Setnau. — 

By  P.  LE  PAGE  RENOUF. 
The  Neapolitan  Stele. 

Treaty  of  Peace  Between  Rameses  II.  and  the  Hittites. 
The  Festal  Dirge  of  the  Egyptians. — 

By  C.  W.  GOODWIN,  M.A. 
Obelisk  of  Rameses  II. 
Hymn  to  Osiris. — 

By  FRANCOIS  CHABAS. 
Ethiopian  Annals. 

Stele  of  the  Vision. 
Stele  of  the  Excommunication. — 
By  G.  MASPERO. 

Sdr"  In  consequence  of  the  increased  interest  taken  in  this 
Series  it  has  been  decided  to  issue  an  extra  ASSYRIAN  volume 
simultaneously  with  the  next  EGYPTIAN  volume.  Thus,  on 
July  i,  1875,  Vols.  IV.  andN.  will  be  ready. 


LIST    OF    TRANSLATIONS 

Which  have  appeared  in  the  "RECORDS  OF  THE  PAST 
up  to  this  date,  December,  i8j/j.. 


EGYPTIAN   TEXTS. 

Inscription  of  Una. 
Annals  of  Thothmes  III. 

Statistical  Tablet. 

Tablet  of  Thothmes  III. 

Battle  of  Megiddo. 

Inscription  of  Amen-em-heb. 

By  S.  BIRCH,  LL.D. 

Hymn  to  Amen-Ra. 

Tale  of  the  Doomed  Prince. 

By  C.  W.  GOODWIN,  M.A. 

Instructions  of  Amenemhat  I. 

By  G.  MASPERO. 

War  of  Rameses  II  with  the  Khita. 

By  PROF.  E.  L.  LUSHINGTON. 

Inscription  of  Pianchi  Mer-Amon. 

By  REV.  F.  C.  COOK,  M.A.,  CANON  OF  EXETER. 

Tablet  of  Newer-Hotep. 

By  PAUL  PIERRET. 

Travels  of  an  Egyptian. 

By  FRANCOIS  CHABAS. 

Lamentations  of  Isis  and  Nephthys. 

By  P.  J.  DE    HORRACK. 

Tale  of  the  Two  Brothers. 

By  P.  LE  PAGE  RENOUF. 

Egyptian  Calendar. 
Table  of  Dynasties. 
Measures  and  Weights. 

VOL.  III.  12 


1 62  LIST    OF   TRANSLATIONS. 

ASSYRIAN    TEXTS. 
Inscription  of  Rimmon-Nirari. 
Monolith  Inscription  of  Samas-Rimmon. 
Babylonian  Exorcisms. 
Private  Will  of  Sennacherib. 
Assyrian  Private  Contract  Tablets. 
Assyrian  Astronomical  Tablets. 
Assyrian  Calendar. 

Tables  of  Assyrian  Weights  and  Measures. 
Synchronous  History  of  Assyria  and  Babylonia. 
Tablet  of  Ancient  Accadian  Laws. 
Kurkh  Inscription  of  Shalmaneser. 
Table  of  Assyrian  Laws. 
Accadian  Liturgy. 
Babylonian  Charms. 

By  REV.  A.  H.  SAYCE,  M.A. 

Inscription  of  Khammurabi. 
Bellino's  Cylinder  of  Sennacherib. 
Taylor's  Cylinder  of  Sennacherib. 
Legend  of  the  Descent  of  Ishtar. 
Inscription  of  Esarhaddon. 
Second  Inscription  of  Esarhaddon. 
Assyrian  Sacred  Poetry. 

By  H.  Fox  TALBOT,  F.R.S. 

Annals  of  Assurbanipal. 
Early  History  of  Babylonia. 

By  GEORGE  SMITH. 
Behistun  Inscription  of  Darius. 

By  SIR  H.  RAWLINSON,  K.C.B.,  D.C.L. 

Annals  of  Assur-nasir-pal. 

By  REV.  J.  M.  RODWELL. 


RECORDS     OF    THE     PAST. 

VOL.    I. 


ASSYRIAN     TEXTS. 


CONTENTS  : 

INSCRIPTION    OF    RI  M  MO  N  -N  I  R  A  R  I. 

BY   REV.   A.    H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 

INSCRIPTION    OF    K  H  AM  M  U  R  AB  I. 
BY   H.    FOX    TALBOT,    F.R.S. 

MONOLITH    INSCRIPTION    OF    S  AM  AS-RIMMON. 
BY  REV.  A.    H.    SAYCE,   M.A. 

SELLING'S    CYLINDER    OF    SENNACHERIB. 
BY  H.    FOX    TALBOT,   F.R.S. 

TAYLOR'S    CYLINDER    OF    SENNACHERIB. 
BY  H.    FOX    TALBOT,    F.R.S. 

ANNALS    OF    ASSURBANIPAL    (CYLINDER    A). 
BY  GEORGE    SMITH. 

BEHISTUN    INSCRIPTION    OF    DARIUS. 
BY  SIR    H.    RAWLINSON,    K.C.B.,   D.C.L. 

BABYLONIAN    EXORCISMS. 
BY   REV.   A.    H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 

PRIVATE    WILL    OF    SENNACHERIB. 

BY   REV.   A.    H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 

ASSYRIAN     PRIVATE    CONTRACT    TABLETS. 
BY  REV.    A.    H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 

LEGEND    OF    THE    DESCENT    OF    ISHTAR. 
BY   H.    FOX  TALBOT,    F.R.S. 

ASSYRIAN    ASTRONOMICAL    TABLETS. 
BY  REV.    A.    H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 

ASSYRIAN    CALENDAR. 
BY   REV.   A.    H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 

TABLES    OF    ASSYRIAN    WEIGHTS    AND    MEASURES. 
BY  REV.  A.   H.    SAYCE,    M.A. 

LISTS     OF     FURTHER     TEXTS,    ASSYRIAN     AND 

EGYPTIAN. 
SELECTED  BY  GEORGE    SMITH,   AND  P.   LE    PAGE    RENOUF. 


RECORDS    OF    THE    PAST. 

VOL.     II. 


EGYPTIAN     TEXTS. 


CONTENTS  : 

INSCRIPTION    OF    UNA. 
BY   S.    BIRCH,    LL.D. 

INSTRUCTIONS    OF    AMENEMHAT    I. 
BY  G.    MASPERO. 

ANNALS    OF    THOTHMES    III. 

STATISTICAL  TABLET.    TABLET  OF  THOTHMES  III.     BATTLE  OF  MEGIDDO. 

INSCRIPTION  OF  AMEN-EM-HEB. 

BY  S.    BIRCH,    LL.D. 

THE    WARS    OF     RAMESES     II     WITH    THE    KHITA. 
BY  PROF.    E.    L.    LUSHINGTON. 

INSCRIPTION    OF    PIANCHI     MER-AMON. 
BY   REV.    F.    C.    COOK,    M.A.,  CANON  OF  EXETER. 

TABLET    OF    NEWER-HOTEP. 
BY   PAUL    PIERRET. 

TRAVELS    OF    AN     EGYPTIAN. 
BY  FRANCOIS    CHABAS. 

THE    LAMENTATIONS    OF    ISIS    AND    NEPHTHYS. 

BY  P.   J.    DE    HORRACK. 

HYMN    TO    AMEN-RA. 
BY  C.  W.    GOODWIN,    M.A. 

THE  TALE  OF  THE  TWO  BROTHERS. 

BY   P.    LE    PAGE    RENOUF. 

THE    TALE    OF    THE    DOOMED    PRINCE. 
BY  C.    W.    GOODWIN,    M.A. 

EGYPTIAN    CALENDAR.        TABLE    OF    DYNASTIES. 
EGYPTIAN     MEASURES    AND    WEIGHTS. 

LISTS     OF     FURTHER     TEXTS,    ASSYRIAN    AND 
EGYPTIAN. 

SELECTED  BY  GEORGE    SMITH  AND  P.    LE    PAGE    RENOUF. 


SOCIETY     OF     BIBLICAL     ARCHEOLOGY. 
9,     CONDUIT    STREET,     LONDON,    W. 

lAtth  December,  1874. 


ASSYRIAN     AND     EGYPTIAN 
CLASSES. 

DEAR  SIR, 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  state  that  these  classes  so 
long  announced,  and  in  the  prospect  of  which  so  lively  an 
interest  has  been  excited,  will  now  definitely  take  place  by  the 
sanction  of  the  Council,  at  the  rooms  of  the  Society  of 
Biblical  Archaeology,  in  the  months  of  February,  March,  and 
April,  8  5. 

The  ASSYRIAN  PHILOLOGICAL  CLASS  will  meet  every 
Saturday,  at  8  p.m.,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  A.  H. 
SAYCE,  who  has  prepared  for  the  use  of  his  students  an 
Elementary  Grammar  and  Reading  Book  of  the  Assyrian 
Language,  containing  the  most  complete  syllabary  yet  extant, 
which  will  serve  also  as  a  vocabulary  of  both  Accadian  and 
Assyrian. 

The  EGYPTIAN  CLASSES  will  meet  at  7.30  on  the  successive 
Mondays  in  the  same  months,  under  the  conduct  of  Mr.  P.  LE 
PAGE  RENOUF,  who  has  also  prepared  an  Elementary  Manual 
of  the  Egyptian  Language  with  interlineary  texts. 

The  Grammars  will  be  published  by  Messrs.  BAGSTER  AND 
SONS  at  the  lowest  possible  cost,  the  authors  having  generously 
conceded  their  profits  for  two  editions  in  order  to  reduce  the 
price  of  the  works  to  the  students  of  these  Classes. 


Admission  to  these  Classes  will  be  free,  by  TICKETS, 
which  I  shall  be  prepared  to  issue  on  application  by  letter, 
after  the  first  week  in  January,  1875. 

In  conclusion  I  beg  to  quote  a  passage  from  an  address  by 
Dr.  BIRCH  on  the  ist  inst. :  "When  perfect  syllabaries  shall 
"  have  been  obtained  and  complete  Grammars  with  interlineary 
"texts  published,  there  will  exist  no  greater  difficulties  to  be 
"surmounted  by  the  student  than  are  to  be  found  in  the  better 
"known  classical  languages,  and  certainly  not  so  many  as  those 
"  which  attend  the  study  of  Sanscrit,  or  Arabic.  There  will  then 
"be  no  reason  whatever  why  a  tolerably  persevering  scholar 
"  should  not  be  able  after  two  sessions  practice  to  read  Assyrian 
"'as  well  as  an  Eton  boy  reads  Greek  at  the  end  of  his  first  year, 
"or  to  translate  easily  some  portions  of  such  Cuneiform  or 
"  Hieroglyphic  texts  as  are  printed  in  the  Transactions  of  this 
"  Society  and  in  the  Records  of  the  Past." 

DEAR  SIR, 

Yours  faithfully, 

W.    R.    COOPER. 


ARCHAIC     CLASSICS. 


THE  Volumes  announced  by  Messrs.  S.  BAGSTER  AND 
SONS  under  the  above  title,  are  far  advanced,  and  will,  it 
is  hoped,  be  ready  by  February  next,  when  the  Assyrian 
and  Egyptian  Classes  initiated  by  the  Members  of  the 
Society  of  Biblical  Archaeology  will  take  place.  The 
ASSYRIAN  ELEMENTARY  GRAMMAR  AND  READING  BOOK 
by  the  Rev.  A.  H.  SAYCE,  M.A.,  will  contain  the  most 
complete  Syllabary  yet  extant  and  will  serve  also  as  a 
Vocabulary  of  both  Accadian  and  Assyrian.  The  ELE- 
MENTARY MANUAL  OF  THE  EGYPTIAN  LANGUAGE  by  Mr. 
P.  LE  PAGE  RENOUF,  F.R.S.L.,  will  contain  a  carefully 
prepared  introduction  to  the  Hieroglyphic  Vocabulary,  and 
a  series  of  interlineary  examples.  The  two  special  features 
which  these  Grammars  will  possess  above  all  others  in 
English  are,  first,  that  the  Syllabaries  are  in  both  cases 
revised  to  the  present  time ;  and  second,  that  the  verbs  and 
nouns  are  accompanied  with  the  original  characters  as  well 
as  being  transliterated,  an  advantage  which  every  Oriental 
student  will  know  well  how  to  appreciate.  By  a  special 
arrangement  with  the  Authors,  Messrs.  BAGSTER  are  enabled 
to  offer  the  Volumes  at  a  price  to  render  them  accessible 
to  every  student,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  success 
of  these  Volumes  will  be  such  as  to  encourage  further 
Works  of  a  similar  nature,  and  to  roll  away  much  of  the 
difficulty  and  obscurity  which  has  hitherto  been  generally 
associated  with  the  very  names  of  the  Archaic  languages  of 
the  historic  world. 

15,  Paternoster  Row,  London. 


SOCIETY     OF     BIBLICAL     ARCHEOLOGY. 

9,   CONDUIT    STREET,    LONDON,   W. 


Instituted  for  the  investigation  of  the  Archaeology, 
History,  Arts,  and  Chronology  of  Ancient  and  Modern 
Assyria,  Palestine,  Egypt,  Arabia,  and  other  Biblical 
Lands  :  the  promotion  of  the  study  of  the  Antiquities  of 
those  countries,  and  the  Record  of  Discoveries  hereafter 
to  be  made  in  connection  therewith. 

To  institute  a  Library  of  Geographical  and  Archaeo- 
logical Works,  and  under  due  regulation  to  circulate  the 
same  among  the  Members. 

The  Meetings  are  held  on  the  first  Tuesdays  in  the 
month  from  November  to  June  at  8.30  p.m. 

MEMBERSHIR 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  desirous  of  becoming  Members 
of  the  Society  are  requested  to  communicate  by  letter  with 
the  Secretary,  Mr.  W.  R.  COOPER,  9,  Conduit  Street,  W., 
who  will  submit  their  names  to  the  Council,  by  whom  all 
Candidates  are  nominated.  The  Subscription  is  one  guinea 
per  annum,  payable  in  advance,  which  entitles  the  Member 
to  receive  all  the  Publications  and  attend  all  the  meetings 
of  and  to  borrow  books  from  the  Library  of  the  Society. 

There  is  no  Entrance  Fee. 


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